Powered-lift aircraft like eVTOL, which operate like both helicopters and airplanes, are "the first new category of aircraft in nearly 80 years," the FAA administrator said in announcing the new rule.

The regulator’s specifications for air taxi operation allayed startups’ fears that its newly minted aircraft category created wouldn’t jibe with their designs.

Joby Aviation said that with the final rule, the FAA “lays the groundwork necessary for Joby to launch commercial passenger service in the U.S., once the company has received type certification of