Joby Aviation has successfully operated with other aircraft in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-controlled airspace by completing its first flight between two US airports. The flight between Marina and Monterey airports in California demonstrated the type of real-world service Joby intends to offer to the public.
The flight time was approximately 12 minutes over 10 nautical miles, including five minutes in a hold pattern at Monterey for air traffic spacing.
The piloted flight included vertical takeoff, transition to wingborne flight, integration into the controlled airspace around Monterey and vertical landing. Joby says this is the first time a piloted electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi has flown from one public airport to another.
The flight successfully demonstrated the team’s ability to conduct mobile flight tests and deliver full ground support operations away from Joby’s home base in Marina. It also provided developmental data related to the human factors of operating the aircraft at a controlled airport and in the enroute national airspace.
The flight is a step forward in the company’s certification efforts, as the FAA requires aircraft to demonstrate they can operate in shared airspace by flying between multiple airports.
Joby recently began final assembly of its first aircraft intended for Type Inspection Authorization flight testing, one of the last major steps in FAA certification. It plans to begin flight testing with FAA pilots early next year. Following certification, Joby is planning to launch commercial service domestically starting in Los Angeles and New York City.
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