Lilium, the developer of the first all-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) jet, has completed final Design Organization Approval (DOA) audit by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
The successful completion of the DOA audit is a key milestone in Lilium’s progress towards becoming an EASA DOA holder, a requirement for aircraft manufacturers, and demonstrates that Lilium has the necessary organization, procedures, competencies, and resources to design and certify aircraft.
Design Organization Approval
EASA grants DOA holders’ special privileges. In particular, DOA holders can have compliance documents accepted by the Agency without further verification and perform activities independently from the Agency. In collaboration with EASA, Lilium is pursuing a DOA specifically tailored for eVTOL and electric propulsion certification.
“In simple terms, a Design Organisation Approval can be thought of as a ‘licence to operate.’ An aerospace company in Europe can neither hold a Type Certificate, nor undertake or approve design activity without having a DOA. Successfully completing the fourth and final DOA Audit pays tribute to the calibre of our team and the rigour of our design processes,” said Alastair McIntosh, Lilium Chief Technology Officer.
Type certification
Lilium applied for EASA DOA in 2017 and has since been working to develop, implement, and demonstrate the appropriate systems and resources. Having completed this fourth EASA audit, Lilium will now enter the final phase of the DOA process – the follow up and closure of outstanding actions and administrative steps to complete the process. Satisfactory conclusion of this phase leads to the issuance of the DOA certificate, targeted for later this year.
In parallel with the ongoing DOA process, Lilium continues to make substantial progress towards type certification of its Lilium Jet. Lilium was awarded its EASA certification basis for the Lilium Jet in 2020 and last month the FAA issued its G-1 for the Lilium Jet, making Lilium the only eVTOL manufacturer with both an EASA and FAA certification basis for a powered lift eVTOL aircraft.
