(IntegrityPress.org) – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has officially granted clearance for the first flying car, known as the “Model A,” to begin testing. For now, the Model A is only able to be tested under an “experimental” classification.
Alef Aeronautics, the company behind the flying car, announced that it has received a Special Airworthiness Certification from the FAA. This certification imposes limitations on where and how the vehicle can operate, both on the road and in the sky.
Before the Model A can be released to the public, it must also meet safety standards set by the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration. Alef’s CEO, Jim Dukhovny, expressed optimism that the certification will be the next step in the process.
Dukhovny emphasized the historical significance of this achievement, noting that while there have been pioneers in the imaginative, but hypothetical, field of flying cars, this is the first time a vehicle that resembles a traditional car has been granted permission to fly. He also highlighted that Alef’s flying car is the first electric vehicle to receive such authorization, and its ability for vertical takeoff aligns with people’s perception of a “flying car.”
As part of the regulatory requirements outlined in the Code of Federal Regulations, Alef is obligated to report any issues, malfunctions, or defects that arise during the development and testing phase of the Model A to the FAA.
Alef reported receiving strong pre-orders for the Model A, both from individuals and companies. Priced at $300,000, the company anticipates making the first deliveries in the fourth quarter of 2025.
The Model A car is also not the only “flying car” currently in development either. The technology behind these apparent experiments seems to be the same type of technology that powers electric cars, such as the Tesla. The fact that it is already accepting pre-orders seems to imply that the technology is there, and they are confident in it, but it remains to be seen if it passes FAA standards.
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