The US government has granted legal flight permission to Alef Aeronautics’ flying car. According to aviation law firm Aero Law Center, the vehicle maker claimed that it has earned a Special Airworthiness Certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This is the first time a vehicle of this type has been certified in the United States.
“The FAA is actively working on its policies for electrical vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles, as well as governing interactions between eVTOLs and ground infrastructure,” Alef Aeronautics said in a statement.
The flying car is entirely electric and can carry one or two passengers
“Alef’s Special Airworthiness Certificate, therefore, limits the locations and purpose for which Alef is permitted to fly,” the statement added.
The San Mateo, California-based flying car is entirely electric and can carry one or two passengers. According to Fox News, the car costs around $300,000 and can fly over stalled traffic.
In October 2022, the business unveiled a full-sized sports car as well as two operational full-size technology demonstrator cars. The firm announced in January that over 440 of its vehicles had been pre-ordered “from both individuals and corporate consumers.”
The company expects to begin delivering flying cars to consumers by the end of 2025, according to sources.
“Alef is aiming to deliver the first real flying car in history, and to receive so many early pre-orders is an incredible validation of the market potential we’re looking to satisfy,” Jim Dukhovny, Alef’s CEO, said in a statement earlier this year.
The flying automobile, according to its website, is being designed for use on a “regular urban or rural road.” It can be parked in a standard parking area as well as within a standard-sized garage.
As a low-speed vehicle, the automobile will not move faster than 25 miles per hour on paved roads. “The assumption is that if a driver requires a faster route, he or she will use Alef’s flight capabilities,” Alef says on its website.