From Concept to Clearance: How EMA Accelerates eVTOL Certification
Electronic vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOLs) have the potential to reshape how we live, move, and interact with the cities where we live. eVTOL companies are not just building a new type of aircraft, they are solving real work problems such as:
- Traffic congestion
- Carbon emissions
- Emergency responses
No eVTOL can take flight until it secures FAA certification, a process made complex by their unprecedented design. These innovative vehicles blend features of fixed-wing planes, rotorcraft, and electric propulsion into one. Their uniqueness even led the FAA to establish an entirely new aircraft category, “powered-lift,” ensuring that these hybrids are governed by rigorous, tailored regulations.
“It becomes very expensive to stay open as you get closer to certification because you really don’t have a product until it’s certified,” says EMA Principal Scientist II Justin McKennon.
Electro Magnetic Applications, Inc. (EMA) leads the way in helping manufacturers navigate the complex certification process by saving time and reducing costs through:
- Strategic planning
- Advanced simulation
- Rigorous testing
- FAA DER services
Consulting Services for eVTOL Manufacturers
EMA consultants collaborate closely with eVTOL manufacturers to develop a comprehensive certification plan, which includes the assessment of electromagnetic environmental effects (E3), electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), and radio frequency interference (RFI). Their expertise includes establishing best practices for cable routing, bounding, and grounding procedures. They also advise on material selection and structural design to optimize electromagnetic resilience.
“All of those are so important very early in a program and we’ve been a resource for a lot of companies doing that,” McKennon says.
Simulation-Driven Certification Support
Starting simulation early in the eVTOL design process is critical for program success. Simulation with Ansys EMC Plus provides early insight into the aircraft’s electromagnetic environment, helping manufacturers reduce physical testing, guide test inputs, and identify potential issues before they become costly setbacks.
“If you haven’t been using advanced simulation you carry a lot of risk, and that risk can kill a company. It can kill a project. It can set you back months or years,” McKennon warns.
EMA uses EMC Plus too:
- Asses the need for additional protection or justify current design choices
- Perform sensitivity analyses to bound realistic protection scenarios
- Reduce program testing and guide test inputs with high-fidelity data
- Evaluate design changes post certification to ensure continued compliance
Specialized Testing for Certification
EMA offers expertise in E3 certification, including lightning and high-intensity radiated fields (HIRF) analysis. Engineers have developed a customizable lightning transient generator to take voltage, current, or magnetic field measurements. Generator waveforms include components A, H, and D, enabling EMA to adapt waveform outputs and amplitudes to align with test article requirements. Lightning generators are shipped to the testing location. Fiber optic cables transmit data to a measurement computer on site providing real time results.
EMA also conducts antenna performance evaluations and RFI analysis to ensure reliable communications and navigation systems.
Read more about EMA’s specialized testing in the blog post “Efficient Lightning Transient Analysis” by clicking here.
Designated Engineering Representative (DER) Services
McKennon, a full authority FAA engineering representative (DER), emphasizes that successful certification hinges not only on quality data but also on how effectively that data is communicated to regulatory authorities.
“The data could be great,” he explains. “But if the story for you got that data, or why you’re doing, it is incomplete, it can really set you back.”
McKennon is available to bridge the gap between manufacturers and federal agencies. He is one of many highly qualified members on the EMA team dedicated to helping you achieve your certification goals.
To learn more about how EMA can support your journey, watch the Solving Electromagnetic Challenges webinar “E3 Certification for eVTOL Aircraft” by clicking here.
Contact EMA now to get started.
