Vertical Aerospace Receives Permit to Fly Approval Allowing Piloted Transition Testing to Proceed

Vertical Aerospace (NYSE: EVTL) (“Vertical” or “the Company”), a global aerospace and technology company that is pioneering electric aviation, today announced it has received its Permit to Fly from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and commenced ‘Phase 4 – Transition’ flight testing, the final stage of its VX4 prototype flight-test programme.

This regulatory approval enables Vertical’s flight-test team to begin testing the VX4 prototype’s defining transition manoeuvre - seamlessly shifting between hover (“helicopter mode”) and wingborne flight (“airplane mode”).

Vertical’s Test Pilot, Paul Stone, flew the first flight of this phase at 10:11am GMT on 13 November 2025. ‘Phase 4 – Transition’ represents the final stage of the VX4 prototype flight test programme and follows completion of flight test Phases 1-3, earlier in the year. These confirmed the VX4’s exceptional flying qualities, and included flying in open air space for the first time.

To prepare for piloted transition flight, Vertical’s engineering and test teams recently completed extensive simulation, ground, and flight testing in collaboration with the UK CAA, verifying all 200 Minimum Safe Aircraft requirements.

In support of our Permit to Fly, more than 20,000 pages of safety and technical information were updated and submitted to the CAA. The CAA is working closely with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for their concurrent validation and certification of the VX4 to the highest safety standards required for commercial use.

Stuart Simpson, CEO, Vertical Aerospace, said: “Receiving our Permit to Fly and starting Phase 4 marks a defining moment for Vertical Aerospace. Our team has spent months verifying every core system under close regulatory oversight, reflecting our unique and robust approach to certification. This step is a critical demonstration of the VX4’s unique tiltrotor capability and real-world capability and is a major technical and certification unlock.”

Last week, as part of its Q3 Business & Strategy update call, Vertical shared an animation explaining this critical step of transition and a first look at it’s new certification aircraft’s leading cabin size and comfort.