The FAA just invented a new aircraft category for a single tiltrotor

The US aviation regulator has created a new set of safety rules for a specific type of aircraft: the tiltrotor. This means the AgustaWestland AW609, a helicopter-plane hybrid, can now be certified for commercial flight.

For decades, aircraft were either planes or helicopters, and they were certified under separate rules. This new rule creates a third category, 'powered-lift,' specifically for aircraft that can take off and land like a helicopter but fly like a plane. It means that a new class of aircraft can finally move from experimental prototypes to commercial use, opening up new possibilities for air travel and specialized missions.