Vertical Aerospace secures first eVTOL Design Organisation Approval by UK CAA
Vertical Aerospace has secured the first ever Design Organisation Approval (DOA) issued to an eVTOL manufacturer by the UK Civil Aviation Authority for the VX4, which authorises Vertical to conduct design activities and issue design approvals.
UK and European aerospace companies cannot hold a Type Certificate without being granted a DOA. As an approved Design Organisation, Vertical will have increasing authority and privileges to progress through design and certification of the VX4.
This approval means the CAA is satisfied that Vertical has the capability to design safe and reliable aircraft and aviation-related products to the highest standards. This is expected to streamline the steps towards obtaining Type Certification.
The process for achieving DOA involved a rigorous assessment of Vertical’s procedures, its quality management system, the competence of its technical workforce, and the necessary facilities and equipment to support the design activities to certify the VX4 aircraft.

Earlier this month, the CAA announced its intention to adopt European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) Means of Compliance to Special Condition for small-category VTOL aircraft (SC-VTOL), the standards against which European and now UK manufacturers will design eVTOLs.
Vertical continues working closely with the CAA on the Type Certification of its VX4 aircraft, having recently submitted its certification basis proposal to the regulator. This positions the UK alongside Europe as a market with a clear regulatory framework for designing and manufacturing these aircraft.
Following the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau’s (JCAB) acceptance of the VX4’s validation programme, Vertical partnered with Japan Airlines for up to 100 VX4 pre-orders with Avolon, as well as Marubeni Corporation for up to 200 VX4 pre-orders.
JCAB is the fourth aviation regulator Vertical is working closely with on Type Certification and concurrent validation with EASA and the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA). Vertical is also in discussions with the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil on the VX4’s future validation programme.
Stephen Fitzpatrick, Vertical’s founder and CEO, said: “This approval is a critical step forward in our mission to decarbonise air travel and bring the UK’s first electric aircraft to market.”
Paul Harper, Vertical’s head of certification, added: “Receiving a DOA from the CAA is a testament to our team and the hard work we are doing to ensure safety is at the core of the VX4. This will give us a competitive edge in bringing the VX4 into service.”
Garry Lathey, Design and Certification Manager at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, commented: “Granting a DOA to Vertical emphasises our commitment to making the UK a key destination for aviation innovators.”
