Otto Establishes Phantom 3500 FAA Certification Basis

Otto Aerospace has closed the G-1 issue paper for the Phantom 3500 light jet, “establishing the regulatory framework for FAA certification,” according to the company. Plans call for certifying the Phantom 3500 as a Part 23, single-pilot, all-composite design. Otto Aerospace applied for FAA certification in September and expects a first flight in 2027 and service entry in 2030.

Having completed the preliminary design review in February, the Otto team has begun advanced material testing while moving forward with key suppliers that include Williams International for the jet’s FJ44 engines, Garmin for avionics, and landing gear from Mecaer.

The Phantom 3500 will have a flat-floor cabin that is 6.4 feet tall and 7.5 feet wide with a volume of 800 cu ft. To help preserve laminar flow on the airframe, the cabin has no windows; passengers’ outside view is via camera feeds to the large Otto Supernatural Vision displays mounted inside the cabin.

“This is a huge moment for the entire Otto team and a really exciting milestone for the Phantom 3500,” said Otto Aerospace president and CEO Scott Drennan. “Now that the certification basis is in place, the program moves into a higher gear on execution. We have alignment with the FAA on what we need to demonstrate, and that gives us real momentum as we move toward first flight and entry into service.”