U.S. agency will review FAA efforts on 'flying taxi' rules

FILE PHOTO: The electric motors of flying taxi company Archer Aviation, are seen on one of the wings of their all-electric aircraft from inside a facility in Hawthorne, California, U.S. June 8, 2021. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Transportation Department's Office of Inspector General said on Monday it will review progress by regulators in establishing the basis for certifying lower-altitude aircraft known as "flying taxis."

While interest in Urban Air Mobility, or highly automated aircraft that can be used for passengers and cargo and are designed to operate in populated areas, has grown substantially, it creates "new and complex safety challenges" for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which is currently reviewing applications for certifying eVTOL aircraft, the watchdog said.