Joby Aviation, a California-based company developing all-electric aircraft for commercial passenger service, today confirmed it has formally applied for its aircraft design to be certified for use in Japan. The news comes as it is reported Japanese and U.S. regulatory authorities confirmed earlier today that they have reached an agreement to deliver a streamlined approval process for U.S. applicants who wish to validate their eVTOL (“electric vertical take-off and landing”) aircraft designs in Japan.
In a press release Joby reports that its application to the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) for the validation of an FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) type certification, “is believed to be the first of its type and is a necessary step to launching aerial ridesharing services in Japan. Joby plans to use its five seat, piloted eVTOL aircraft to connect people and cities through fast, quiet, and emissions-free flight.”
Commenting on the application, JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO, Joby Aviation, said: “With 92% of residents living in urban areas, we have a spectacular opportunity to save people time in congested cities like Tokyo, Yokohama, and Osaka while also reducing their impact on the environment.”
The company also states that it “has long-standing ties with Japan, having welcomed Toyota as a strategic partner in 2018. As well as lending their expertise on manufacturing process development and high-volume production, Toyota is also Joby’s largest outside investor, with nearly $400m invested to date. Earlier this year, Joby also entered into a partnership with ANA Holdings Inc., Japan’s largest airline, to bring aerial ridesharing services to the Japanese market. Joby is a member of Japan’s Public-Private Conference for the Future Air Mobility Revolution, established by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to accelerate the adoption of aerial ridesharing in the country.”
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(Image: Joby Aviation)
