🛂 Regulatory Pathway

TL;DR for Skeptics: The FAA isn't blocking eVTOL—they're actively building certification pathways. As a US aerospace company pursuing FAA powered-lift certification with parallel Transport Canada engagement, we're positioned for the world's largest aviation market while de-risking our timeline through international collaboration.

The Regulatory Reality: Better Than You Think

When people say "that'll never get approved" or "regulations will kill this," they're operating on outdated assumptions. The reality is that aviation authorities worldwide are racing to enable advanced air mobility, not block it.

Here's why Ryze's regulatory pathway is not only viable—it's de-risked.

🇺🇸 FAA: Leading the Advanced Air Mobility Revolution

The FAA Is Building the Pathway NOW

The Federal Aviation Administration has made Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) a top strategic priority, with concrete programs, published guidance, and active certifications underway.

Innovate28: The FAA's AAM Implementation Plan[1]

The FAA launched Innovate28—a comprehensive plan to enable integrated AAM operations by the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. This isn't aspirational; it's a binding federal roadmap with deliverables, timelines, and accountability.

What Innovate28 includes:

• Certification pathways for powered-lift aircraft (eVTOL)
• Infrastructure for vertiports and charging stations
• Air traffic management integration for urban operations
• Public-private partnerships to accelerate deployment
• Federal funding and grants for AAM developers

What this means for Ryze:

• The FAA has committed resources, political capital, and deadlines to make AAM real
• Certification is a "when," not "if"
• Early engagement positions us within the Innovate28 ecosystem

Powered-Lift Certification: A New Aircraft Category

In 2024, the FAA created the "Powered-Lift" aircraft category—the first new aircraft category in nearly 100 years.[2]

Advisory Circular AC 21.17-4 establishes the certification pathway for powered-lift aircraft, including eVTOL.[3]

Why this matters:

• The FAA isn't forcing eVTOL into outdated helicopter or airplane regulations
• They've created a modern, purpose-built framework for vertical takeoff electric aircraft
• This demonstrates regulatory flexibility and commitment to innovation

Real Certifications Are Happening

Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation have both received final airworthiness criteria from the FAA—the key milestone before type certification.[4][5]

What this proves:

✅ FAA powered-lift certification is real and active

✅ Multiple companies are progressing through the process

✅ The regulatory pathway exists and is being walked successfully

Ryze's advantage: We're a few years behind—which means the pathway is now proven rather than experimental.

🔬 Hydrogen Propulsion: FAA Is Ahead of the Curve

FAA Hydrogen-Fueled Aircraft Roadmap

In December 2024, the FAA released its "Hydrogen-Fueled Aircraft Safety and Certification Roadmap"—a comprehensive strategy for certifying hydrogen propulsion systems.[6]

Key provisions:

• Safety standards for hydrogen fuel cells and storage systems
• Certification pathways for hydrogen-electric hybrid propulsion
• Ground handling, refueling, and airport infrastructure requirements
• Timeline for regulatory framework completion

Legislative backing: The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, Section 1019 mandates the FAA develop a "Hydrogen Aviation Strategy," with federal funding allocated.[7]

What this means for Ryze's hydrogen upgrade path:

• Hydrogen isn't speculative—it's federally mandated and funded
• The FAA is building certification pathways NOW (not in 10 years)
• Our Ryze 1 → Ryze 2 hydrogen transition aligns perfectly with FAA's timeline

Precedent: Universal Hydrogen & ZeroAvia

Universal Hydrogen received an FAA G-1 Issue Paper in 2023—the first step toward certifying hydrogen propulsion systems for regional aircraft.[8]

ZeroAvia is actively working with the FAA on hydrogen-electric powertrain certification for 10-20 seat aircraft.[9]

The takeaway: Hydrogen aviation certification is not theoretical. Companies are in active FAA certification programs right now.

🌍 International Harmonization: Multi-Country Market Access

The AAM Roadmap: Five Countries, One Framework

The FAA has partnered with Canada (Transport Canada), UK (CAA), Australia (CASA), and New Zealand (CAA) to create the "Roadmap for Advanced Air Mobility Aircraft Type Certification."[10]

What this roadmap does:

• Harmonizes certification standards across all five countries
• Enables data sharing, test results acceptance, and mutual validation
• Simplifies entry into multiple markets after primary certification
• Reduces redundant testing and compliance costs

The implication is massive:

Traditional aircraft face separate, sequential certifications in each country. Each regulator has different standards, timelines, and requirements.

With the AAM Roadmap: Certification in one member country enables streamlined validation in the other four, because the underlying standards are harmonized.

Market Access: 471 Million People

This international collaboration directly addresses investor concerns about global market access:

• 🇺🇸 USA: 335M population (world's largest aviation market)
• 🇨🇦 Canada: 38M population
• 🇬🇧 UK: 67M population
• 🇦🇺 Australia: 26M population
• 🇳🇿 New Zealand: 5M population

Total: 471 million people across five English-speaking, high-GDP markets with aligned certification frameworks.

🎯 Ryze's Dual-Track Regulatory Strategy

Why US Incorporation + FAA Certification Is Strategic

Ryze Mobility is a Delaware C-Corp—a US aerospace company.

Strategic advantages:

1. Investor alignment: US VCs strongly prefer Delaware C-Corps (standard governance, familiar securities law)
2. FAA engagement: Being a US company makes FAA more invested in our success
3. Market access: USA is the world's largest aviation market and where most aerospace investors are based
4. Exit positioning: US aerospace acquirers (Boeing, Lockheed, Textron) prefer US targets
5. Grant access: NSF, NASA, DARPA, DoD SBIR programs favor US-domiciled companies

Primary Path: FAA Powered-Lift Certification

Ryze's long-term certification target is FAA powered-lift approval.

Timeline:

• 2025-2026: Early FAA engagement, share technical architecture
• 2027-2028: Prototype testing, FAA observation program
• 2028-2030: Formal FAA type certification process
• 2030+: FAA Type Certificate obtained

Why FAA first makes sense:

• USA is our primary market (largest, most investment capital)
• Powered-lift category is proven (Joby, Archer precedent)
• Hydrogen pathway is established (FAA Roadmap, Universal Hydrogen precedent)
• We're a US company—regulatory alignment is natural

Parallel Path: Transport Canada Fast-Track

Reality check: FAA certification takes 5-7 years. We need to fly sooner to maintain momentum and investor confidence.

Solution: Pursue Transport Canada certification in parallel as a fast-track pathway to first flight.

Why Transport Canada:

• Collaborative AAM division actively seeking industry engagement[10]
• Faster timeline: Historically more streamlined than FAA for novel aircraft
• Hydrogen-friendly: Canadian government is investing heavily in hydrogen economy
• AAM Roadmap member: TC certification enables streamlined FAA validation

Our Canadian subsidiary (Ryze Mobility Canada, Inc.) performs R&D and testing in Canada, allowing us to:

• Access top engineering talent (McMaster University partnership)
• Leverage Canadian grants (SR&ED, IRAP, MITACS)
• Engage Transport Canada's AAM division
• Position for faster first-flight certification (2028-2029)

The Hybrid Strategy: Best of Both Worlds

Investor pitch:

"Ryze Mobility is a US aerospace company pursuing FAA powered-lift certification for the world's largest aviation market. We're de-risking our timeline through parallel Transport Canada certification, which gets us flying 2-3 years earlier while maintaining full FAA alignment via the AAM Roadmap.

Our Canadian subsidiary performs R&D and testing, accessing top engineering talent and grant funding, while all IP remains with our US parent company. This dual-track approach maximizes capital efficiency, accelerates time-to-flight, and ensures US market access."

Why this works:

1. US company = investor-friendly, FAA-aligned, exit-ready
2. TC fast-track = flying demonstrator by 2028-2029 (proof of technology)
3. AAM Roadmap = TC certification enables streamlined FAA validation
4. Dual grant access = US grants (NSF, NASA, DARPA) + Canadian grants (SR&ED, IRAP)

🛡️ Safety: The Regulatory Priority

Aviation regulators care about one thing above all: safety. If you can demonstrate safety, certification follows.

Ryze's Safety Architecture

AI-Based Dynamic Redundancy (AI BDR):

• Real-time motor health monitoring across 8 independent electric motors
• Predictive failure detection using AI/ML models
• Autonomous failover and power redistribution in the event of motor degradation or failure
• Multi-layer redundancy that exceeds traditional twin-engine safety margins

Why regulators will care:

• Addresses the #1 concern with eVTOL: what happens if something fails mid-flight?
• Provides quantifiable safety data through simulation and testing
• Leverages modern AI capabilities that didn't exist when current regulations were written
• Demonstrates proactive safety engineering, not reactive compliance

Dual-Mode Innovation: A Novel Category

Most eVTOL companies are developing pure aircraft. Ryze is developing a transformable vehicle that operates both on roads and in the air.

The regulatory question: Does this fall under aircraft certification, vehicle certification, or a hybrid approach?

Our strategy: Engage both FAA and Transport Canada early to define this pathway collaboratively.

Why this is an advantage:

• Novel categories often receive tailored frameworks rather than being forced into ill-fitting legacy regulations
• Early collaboration positions us as partners in defining the standards
• Dual-mode capability differentiates us from pure eVTOL competitors facing commoditization
• Our AI BDR system provides a safety story that regulators prioritize

📅 Certification Timeline & Roadmap

Phase 1: Early Engagement (2025-2026)

FAA (Primary Track):

• Initiate contact with FAA Aircraft Certification Service (AIR)
• Introduce Ryze to FAA's Innovate28 AAM initiative
• Present hydrogen-electric dual-mode eVTOL concept
• Request FAA's Hydrogen Roadmap and powered-lift guidance
• Establish primary point of contact

Transport Canada (Parallel Track):

• Engage TC Advanced Air Mobility division
• Share technical specifications and safety architecture
• Present hydrogen system design and dual-mode innovation
• Discuss certification pathway and novel requirements
• Coordinate data-sharing via AAM Roadmap

Phase 2: Prototype & Testing (2027-2028)

• First flight of Ryze 1 prototype
• Ground testing of dual-mode transitions
• Flight testing under FAA and TC observation
• Share test data with both regulators simultaneously
• Safety validation of AI BDR system
• Hydrogen fuel cell integration testing (Ryze 2 path)

Phase 3: Formal Certification (2028-2030)

Transport Canada (Fast-Track):

• Submit formal TC type certification application (Q1 2029)
• Execute certification test plan with TC oversight
• Target: Canadian Type Certificate by Q4 2029

FAA (Primary):

• Parallel FAA certification application (2029)
• Leverage TC test data via AAM Roadmap
• Execute FAA-specific compliance testing
• Target: FAA Type Certificate by 2030-2031

Phase 4: International Validation (2030+)

• ✅ FAA Type Certificate (US market access)
• ✅ TC Type Certificate (Canadian market access)
• UK (CAA) validation via AAM Roadmap
• Australia (CASA) validation via AAM Roadmap
• New Zealand (CAA) validation via AAM Roadmap
• EU (EASA) certification (separate process, leveraging FAA/TC data)

💼 What This Means for Investors

Regulatory Risk: Significantly De-Risked

Traditional concern: "Regulators will never approve this / it'll take decades."

Reality:

✅ FAA has committed to AAM via Innovate28 (2028 target for operations)

✅ Powered-lift category exists (Joby, Archer progressing through certification)

✅ Hydrogen pathway established (FAA Roadmap published Dec 2024, federal mandate)

✅ International harmonization reduces validation barriers across 5 major markets

✅ Dual-track strategy de-risks timeline (TC fast-track, FAA primary)

✅ US company structure aligns with FAA engagement and investor expectations

Competitive Positioning

Most eVTOL startups are either:

1. Waiting to see what regulations emerge, or
2. Pursuing single-country certification without international strategy

Ryze is different:

• Engaging both FAA and TC proactively from Day 1
• Leveraging AAM Roadmap for multi-country access
• Positioned as US company with Canadian R&D advantages
• De-risking timeline through dual-track approach

This gives us:

• First-mover advantage in dual-mode certification
• Regulatory clarity earlier in development
• Cost savings by avoiding late-stage redesigns
• Investor confidence through demonstrated pathway

📋 Key Regulatory Resources

US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

• Innovate28 AAM Program: faa.gov/air-mobility
• Powered-Lift Certification (AC 21.17-4): faa.gov/advisory-circular
• Hydrogen Aircraft Roadmap: faa.gov/hydrogen-roadmap

Transport Canada

• Advanced Air Mobility Division: AdvancedAirMobility-MobiliteAerienneAvancee@tc.gc.ca
• AAM Information: tc.canada.ca/advanced-air-mobility
• Canadian Aviation Regulations Part V: tc.canada.ca/part-v

International Collaboration

• AAM Roadmap Partners: USA (FAA), Canada (TC), UK (CAA), Australia (CASA), New Zealand (CAA)
• ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization): icao.int

US Aerospace Grants

• NASA AAM Program: nasa.gov/aam
• NSF SBIR: nsf.gov/sbir
• DARPA: darpa.mil
• AFWERX: afwerx.com

🎯 Bottom Line

The question isn't "Will regulators approve this?"

The question is: "Are we positioned to lead the certification pathway?"

And the answer is yes.

The FAA has made AAM a top priority. They've created new aircraft categories, published hydrogen roadmaps, and committed to 2028 operations. Transport Canada is collaborating internationally to harmonize standards.

As a US aerospace company with Canadian R&D operations, we're positioned to:

• Pursue FAA certification in the world's largest market
• De-risk our timeline through parallel TC certification
• Access the strongest grant programs in both countries
• Validate across 5 countries via the AAM Roadmap

The regulatory path exists. We're walking it strategically.

Last updated: November 2025