Why Speed to Certification Is Critical for Air Taxi and Airline Start-Ups

Image courtesy: https://www.volocopter.com/en/volocity

In today’s aviation landscape, where innovation is accelerating and competition is fiercer

than ever, speed is no longer a luxury; it is a strategic imperative. For both air taxi operators and airline start-ups, the pathway from concept to certified operation is complex, highly regulated, and financially demanding. However, the difference between a fast, well-managed certification process and a slow, poorly coordinated one can determine whether a new aviation venture thrives… or fails before it ever takes off.

At Aviatica Consulting, we have seen dozens of start-ups across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia succeed — and many others struggle — because of the pace at which they move through the certification timeline. Speed, when executed correctly, becomes both a competitive advantage and a safeguard against unnecessary financial drain.

1. Time Is Money: The Burn Rate Reality

Every aviation start-up, whether an air taxi operator or a traditional airline, faces one

unavoidable truth: burn rate accelerates as certification progresses.

• During early-stage planning, monthly costs may be relatively low.

• As the project approaches Phase 3 and 4 of an AOC or operational approval, costs climb sharply.

• At the final stages, burn rates can reach USD 50,000–75,000 per day, depending on aircraft leases, staffing, training, and regulatory engagements.

Delays — even small ones — compound into catastrophic financial overruns. A certification process that slips by just two months can add millions in unplanned expenses.

In our experience, the majority of delayed projects suffer not just from regulatory issues (although these do occur), but from internal ones: slow decision-making, weak project leadership, late recruitment, unclear documentation, or inadequate readiness for authority engagement.

Speed saves money. Speed prevents cashflow crises. Speed protects investors’ confidence.

2. Speed Creates Competitive Advantage — Especially in the Air Taxi Market

The emerging air taxi and eVTOL sector is one of the fastest-moving segments of aviation.

New entrants are racing to secure:

• the first approvals for their operational models,

• landing and vertiport access agreements,

• pilot and maintenance training pathways,

• favourable partnership and investor positions.

Being first to market — or even early enough — dramatically influences:

• brand credibility,

• market share capture,

• ability to attract investment,

• long-term strategic positioning.

Certification delays give competitors time to overtake, even if they started later. In this sector, momentum matters, and slow operators lose the very advantage their innovation was meant to deliver.

3. Regulators Reward Prepared, Fast-Moving Start-Ups

Contrary to the myth, aviation authorities do appreciate efficiency. Authorities become frustrated when applicants are slow, unprepared, or overly reliant on them for guidance.

A start-up that moves quickly with clarity and organisation:

• gets faster responses,

• experiences fewer document rewrites,

• benefits from smoother demonstrations and audits,

• avoids bottlenecks caused by missing evidence or incomplete manuals.

Speed comes from being ready — not rushing.

A robust certification plan, proper documentation package, and a fully staffed team allow the

project to flow seamlessly through each regulatory milestone.

4. Slow Start-Ups Struggle with Team Fatigue and Loss of Focus

Another hidden cost of a sluggish certification process is the loss of energy, morale, and focus within the team:

• Project fatigue sets in.

• Key personnel become distracted or overworked.

• Stakeholders lose confidence.

• The team drifts away from critical timelines.

A slow, drifting project loses structure — and once that happens, regaining momentum is

extraordinarily difficult.

By contrast, a high-tempo, well-led certification project keeps everyone aligned, motivated, and operationally sharp.

5. Weak Start-Up Teams Are a Major Cause of Delays

In our consulting work across more than a dozen start-ups, one pattern is consistent:

The single biggest cause of certification delays is a weak project team.

Indicators of a weak team include:

• indecision or micro-management at the executive level,

• overreliance on external consultants for day-to-day action,

• lack of understanding of authority expectations,

• poor coordination between operational departments,

• failure to prioritise documentation and evidence gathering.

• friends and family members appointed to crucial positions

• Silo mentality

A start-up that moves slowly because the team lacks the capability or willingness to “push” ends up paying for it later — often at an unsustainable rate.

This is why we always stress the importance of building the right team early, including:

• a strong postholder / nominated persons group with a proven track record,

• reliable subject-matter experts,

• a capable certification project manager,

• timely recruitment of pilots, engineers, dispatchers, and key back-office staff.

6. Speed to Certification Protects Investor Relationships

Investors value traction. They want to see:

• milestones being met,

• visible progress,

• effective leadership,

• momentum.

A slow project erodes investor confidence quickly. Project overruns force founders back into

the market for additional funding, often at worse terms or equity dilution. Conversely, hitting certification milestones early strengthens investor trust and paves the way for smoother future funding rounds, aircraft introductions, or fleet expansion.

7. How Start-Ups Can Accelerate the Certification Process

A few key strategies reliably shorten the certification timeline:

a. Start Documentation Immediately

OM-A to D, SMS, CAME, ERP, MEL, SOPs, training syllabi — these must begin early, not

halfway through. Make decisions early and start software reviews even earlier as the use

must be described in manuals.

b. Build a High-Calibre Team

Avoid shortcuts. Hire experienced aviation professionals early to avoid costly corrections

later.

c. Use Certification Specialists

Experienced advisers bring templates, processes, and authority relationships that reduce

trial and error.

d. Maintain a Weekly Deliverables Schedule

No open-ended tasks. Every week must produce measurable output. Use a loose item list,

those items that must be done but are not part of any particular workstream.

e. Engage with Authorities Early and Often

Pre-application meetings, issue-based consultations, and regular check-ins prevent

misunderstandings. Build a relationship with the inspectors and surveyors.

f. Ensure Simulator and Aircraft Access Early

Simulators, training aircraft, inspection with the authority — unresolved simulator and aircraft access create long delays.

8. The Faster Start-Ups Become the Strongest Operators

A rapid certification process — when managed professionally — becomes a key marker of

organisational strength:

• disciplined leadership

• efficient processes

• strong compliance culture

• operational clarity

• competitive readiness

These are the qualities regulators, investors, and customers value the most. A fast start-up is usually a strong start-up.

9. Why Cheaper Consultancy Costs Often Become Irrelevant

A common error made by founders is to select the lowest-cost consultancy option at the

outset. This frequently leads to profound problems later.

The initial saving is a drop in the ocean compared to the cost of inevitable delays

caused by an inexperienced team. Cheap consultancy becomes extraordinarily expensive when weak documentation, unclear pathways, poor regulatory engagement, or mismanaged timelines lead to:

• months of delay

• spiralling burn rates

• lost investor confidence

• missed market opportunities

• eputational damage

Expertise pays for itself many times over. The consultancy fee becomes immaterial when

compared to the cost of overruns that can easily range from hundreds of thousands to a

million USD and upwards. Similarly, an expensive consultancy doesn’t necessarily mean

they will deliver either. Your choice must be based on past performance and evidence of the

same.

Conclusion

Speed to certification is not simply a project management concept; it is the difference

between success and failure for many aviation start-ups. In both the air taxi sector and the

airline world, delays are expensive, demoralising, and strategically damaging.

With the right team, the right documentation, and the right leadership, certification can move

quickly, efficiently, and confidently.

At Aviatica Consulting, we specialise in exactly this: driving aviation start-ups to

certification with precision, speed, and regulatory excellence.

If you’d like to strengthen your start-up’s certification pathway or accelerate an existing

project — we’re here to support you.