Asia-Pacific Region Adopts Reference Materials for the Regulation of Air Taxis and Drones

            On 14 July 2025, civil aviation authorities from the Asia-Pacific region launched the “Reference Materials for Regulators to Facilitate the Regulation of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Operations” at the 2nd Meeting of Asia-Pacific Regulators on AAM at the High-Level Aviation Week in Singapore. The Reference Materials, jointly developed by 24 Asia-Pacific States and Administrations, will help support industry development, accelerate safe adoption and reduce regulatory risk and cost.

2          This is the first time, and the Asia-Pacific is the first region within which, regulators have come together to jointly develop a set of Reference Materials which regulators can consider, adapt, and use to prepare for and facilitate commercial operations of air taxis and drones. Besides adoption in the Asia-Pacific region, the group will also submit the Reference Materials to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for reference for global adoption. In response to industry feedback, the Reference Materials will be regularly updated to address even newer technologies and operational concepts.

3          The launch of the Reference Materials will support more widespread use of drones and bring the region one step closer to making air taxi operations a reality. The meeting, which was attended by 20 Asia-Pacific regulators and senior representatives from 21 AAM companies and organisations (see Annex A for details), discussed plans for more uses of drones and the launch of air taxi operations over the next five years and how countries can work together to facilitate and benefit from such operations. Main uses of AAM include UAS operations to improve productivity and enable rapid service delivery, and eVTOL aircraft being an alternative transport solution, providing efficient connectivity along major routes and for island hopping, enhancing the low altitude economy. Participants emphasised the importance of collaboration among governments, and between governments and the private sector, to ensure that the region is ready to capture the economic, social, and environmental benefits that these technologies bring.

4          The development of the reference materials mooted by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) was an outcome of the 1st Meeting of Asia-Pacific Regulators on AAM convened by CAAS and held in Singapore in November 2023. They cover six key areas for eVTOL aircraft, namely: i) Certification, Validation, and Acceptance; ii) Regulations for eVTOL Aircraft Entry into Service (EIS); iii) Cooperation among National Agencies; iv) Economic Policies and Regulations; v) Capability Development; and vi) Social Acceptance; and two areas of UAS, namely: i) Technical Guidance for the Implementation of Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) UAS Operations; and ii) Capability Building (UAS Personnel Training).

5          For regulators, the Reference Materials will help regulators and regulations keep pace with the rapid development and deployment of new technologies to leverage their benefits for economies and societies while ensuring aviation and public safety and security. For industry, the Reference Materials will facilitate technology development and adoption, support industry development and reduce regulatory uncertainty, cost and risk to investments in AAM and UAS.

6          A closed-group consultation on the draft Reference Materials was conducted in November 2024 and a public industry consultation in April 2025. Nearly 600 feedback were received from 48 respondents (see Annex B for details). The feedback were considered in the finalisation of the Reference Materials.

7          One key feedback received was for guidance to be provided on establishing safety targets for different types of eVTOL aircraft operations. The Reference Materials have since been updated to provide regulators with a structured approach to determining safety targets and facilitating the transfer of aircraft from the State of Design to the State of the Operator.

8          Another key feedback was on the inclusion of a comprehensive list of industry standards recognised as acceptable means of compliance with regulations. The Reference Materials have been enhanced to include the scope of standards referenced across the industry in different regions to demonstrate compliance with specific regulatory requirements.

9          Another notable feedback was on future updates of the Reference Materials to address even newer technologies and operational concepts, such as guidance for hybrid platforms that combine different propulsion systems, approaches for remotely piloted systems and regulations for autonomous eVTOL aircraft operations. The Meeting discussed and agreed that the Reference Materials will be a “live” document and be regularly updated.

10        Mr Han Kok Juan, Director-General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), said, “The Asia-Pacific region will be a major market for Advanced Air Mobility which will transform the way people work, move and live and be another engine of economic growth. The launch of the Reference Materials is a significant step forward to more widespread use of drones and making air taxi operations a reality.  It is a good example of how collaboration amongst regulators and with industry is key to unlocking the full potential of technology to benefit our economies and societies.”

11       The full Reference Materials can be downloaded here.

Annex A - Participants at 2nd Meeting of Asia-Pacific Regulators on Advanced Air Mobility

Annex B - Respondents to Industry Consultations in November 2024 and April 2025

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