What Does an Advanced Air Mobility PR Agency Do? Guide

An advanced air mobility PR agency plans communications for eVTOL aircraft and drone companies around the FAA rules that decide when operations can start. The FAA's October 22, 2024 final rule created a pilot certification and operating framework for powered-lift aircraft, and the FAA proposed a Part 108 rule on August 7, 2025 for drone operations beyond visual line of sight.

Last updated: November 6, 2026. Virgo PR publishes this guide for general information. Aviation rules change, so confirm current status with the FAA and counsel.

Which FAA rules shape eVTOL announcements?

The FAA's powered-lift final rule shapes most eVTOL announcements, because it sets how pilots are certified and how these aircraft may operate. DLA Piper reported that the FAA issued the rule on October 22, 2024, and that it was the first set of regulations for a new aircraft category in almost 80 years. The rule includes a ten-year Special Federal Aviation Regulation and requires pilots to be type-rated for each specific powered-lift aircraft, according to DLA Piper's summary of the powered-lift rule.

MilestoneWhat it coversSource

Powered-lift final rule, October 22, 2024Pilot certification, training and operating requirements for powered-lift aircraftDLA Piper; Eckert Seamans Aircraft type certificationThe FAA evaluates powered-lift as a special class under 14 CFR 21.17(b)DLA Piper Part 108 proposed rule, August 7, 2025Drone operations beyond visual line of sight, in place of case-by-case waiversKnobbe Martens

Reed Smith's eVTOL regulatory update adds an important limit: many powered-lift operations still require a type-certified aircraft built under a production certificate, and manufacturers were still working through type certification. A rule that lets pilots fly an aircraft category does not certify any one company's aircraft.

What is the status of the drone Part 108 rule?

Part 108 was a proposed rule as of the sources reviewed, and a company should confirm its current status before describing it. Knobbe Martens reported that the FAA and the Transportation Security Administration issued the notice of proposed rulemaking on August 7, 2025, with comments due by October 6, 2025, and that the rule would replace the case-by-case waiver process for beyond-visual-line-of-sight flights. A trade publication, Aero-News Network, later reported that the FAA had sent a final Part 108 rule for federal review, but the sources reviewed do not confirm publication.

A drone company should therefore write "proposed" or "final" only after checking the Federal Register.

How should certification status be worded?

Certification status should name the specific approval a company holds and avoid phrases that suggest passenger service is approved. The table gives editorial wording for common statements.

StatementWording that holds upWording to avoid

Aircraft status"In the FAA type certification process" or "type certificate received on [date]""FAA approved" with no named certificate Pilot rules"Operating under the FAA's powered-lift pilot rule"Implying the pilot rule certifies the aircraft Drone operations"Operating under a waiver" or "under Part 108 once final""Cleared for beyond visual line of sight" without naming the approval

Bracketed dates are placeholders for the reader's own announcement. Virgo PR's review of deep-tech press release credibility shows how announcements are checked against named milestones.

Who needs to hear from an air mobility company?

An air mobility company needs to reach investors, aviation operators, city and airport partners, and the communities near its routes. Investors read certification status and funding, operators read pilot and maintenance requirements, partners read schedule and site plans, and residents read noise and safety information.

The common discipline is to separate certified, in progress and planned. Virgo PR's guides to the EV and mobility PR agency and counter-UAS PR rules cover neighboring sectors where claims and regulation interact.

What should an air mobility PR program do in 90 days?

A 90-day air mobility PR program builds a verified certification file before it pitches reporters. This sequence is an editorial suggestion.

• Days 1 to 30: list every certificate, waiver and approval held or applied for, with the date and the FAA office.

• Days 31 to 60: write a one-page plain-language explanation of the aircraft, its approvals and what remains.

• Days 61 to 90: brief two trade reporters on a completed milestone, and prepare a response for a certification delay.

Teams planning this work can also read the study of what gets deep-tech funding covered, and Virgo PR's technology PR agency page describes its services. The certification file should be complete before the first announcement.

Frequently asked questions

What does an advanced air mobility PR agency do?

An advanced air mobility PR agency writes and places announcements about eVTOL aircraft, drones, funding and partnerships, prepares executives for interviews, and plans responses to certification delays. It works from the company's FAA record so every status claim is accurate.

What is powered-lift?

Powered-lift is the FAA's term for aircraft that take off and land vertically and fly forward, a category that includes eVTOL air taxis, according to law firm summaries of the 2024 rule.

Does the powered-lift rule certify eVTOL aircraft?

No. The October 2024 rule covers pilot certification and operations. Each aircraft still needs its own type certification, according to Reed Smith.

Is the FAA Part 108 drone rule final?

The sources reviewed show a proposed rule issued on August 7, 2025 and a trade report of final federal review. Confirm the current status in the Federal Register before citing it.

Sources and review notes

Facts come from DLA Piper (October 31, 2024), Eckert Seamans (November 1, 2024), Reed Smith, Knobbe Martens and Aero-News Network. Rule status after November 6, 2026 was not reviewed.