AviationNews – Vertical Aerospace has secured a crucial Permit to Fly from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), allowing it to begin the final phase of piloted flight testing for its VX4 electric air taxi. This is a major certification milestone that moves the company into the most complex part of its test program: “transition” flights.
The Bristol-based company (NYSE: EVTL) announced the approval on November 13, 2025, confirming its test pilots can now fly the VX4 prototype through its full flight envelope. The permit was granted after Vertical submitted extensive safety and technical documentation to the CAA. The first piloted flight of this new phase was successfully conducted this morning.
This final test phase focuses on the transition manoeuvre, the defining capability of an eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft. The VX4 will be flown by a pilot as it converts from “helicopter mode” (vertical lift) to “airplane mode” (wingborne flight) by tilting its powerful electric propulsors forward, a feat essential for achieving high-speed, efficient flight.
“Receiving our Permit to Fly and starting Phase 4 marks a defining moment for Vertical Aerospace,” said Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical. “Our team has spent months verifying every core system under close regulatory oversight… Phase 4 is a critical demonstration of the VX4’s unique tiltrotor capability and a major technical and certification unlock.”
This approval keeps Vertical Aerospace on track to complete its transition flight tests by the end of 2025. The success of this phase is fundamental to achieving full type certification from both the UK CAA and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). It represents a critical step from a test prototype to a commercially viable aircraft, paving the way for the future of urban air mobility.
