Lilium, a German air taxi firm, has received regulatory approval to design and operate its electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles, the company said Monday. Alastair McIntosh, Lilium's chief technology officer and head of design organization, said the approval is effectively a "license to operate" for the firm. "Receiving Design Organization Approval from EASA further motivates us on our path to commercialize the revolutionary Lilium Jet," McIntosh said in a statement Monday. I would like to congratulate Lilium on achieving this Design Organization Approval, which advances Europe's electric aviation activity," he added. It's a key milestone for the industry, which has been working for several years to get such vehicles ready for commercialization.

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Persons: Lilium, Alastair McIntosh, McIntosh, Luc Tytgat Organizations: European Union Aviation Safety Agency, EU, Lilium Locations: German