Joby receives part 135 Certification from the FAA

Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate received ahead of schedule, initially targeted for second half of 2022

Certification allows Joby to operate aircraft commercially

Joby will use conventional aircraft to refine systems and procedures in advance of launching eVTOL service targeted for 2024

Joby’s air operations team pictured receiving the company’s Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate from the FAA’s San Jose Flight Standards District Office. (Photo: Business Wire)

 

Joby Aviation, a California-based company developing all-electric aircraft for commercial passenger service, today announced the Company has received a Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration, allowing Joby to begin on-demand commercial air taxi operations.

Joby received the certification ahead of schedule, with completion of the process originally expected in the second half of 2022. The five-stage process included the submission of more than 850 pages of manuals for approval and required Joby’s initial cadre of pilots to demonstrate mastery of the Company’s procedures and training under FAA observation.

The Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate is one of three FAA approvals required for Joby to operate its revolutionary electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft as an air taxi service in cities and communities across the United States, alongside a Type Certificate and a Production Certificate.

Bonny Simi, Head of Air Operations and People at Joby, and one of the Company’s FAA-approved pilots, stated: “The procedures we’ve prepared lay a foundation for our future eVTOL operations. Over the coming months, we will use our Part 135 certificate to exercise the operations and customer technology platforms that will underpin our multi-modal ridesharing service, while also refining our procedures to ensure seamless journeys for our customers."

“Receiving this certificate ahead of schedule is a testament to the incredible dedication and hard work of our team,” added Simi.

Once Joby receives a type certificate for its eVTOL aircraft, the Company will complete the FAA review process to add the new aircraft type to its existing air carrier certificate. Pilots for the Company’s future aerial ridesharing service, expected to launch in 2024, will have the benefit of flying an environmentally-friendly aircraft on a reliable work schedule, ending each shift in their home city.

TMAP Joins Joby and SKT in Partnership to Bring Air Taxi Service to South Korea

Joby Aviation, a California-based company developing all-electric aircraft for commercial passenger service, today confirmed that TMAP, South Korea’s largest mobility platform, will join Joby’s partnership with SK Telecom to bring aerial ridesharing services to Korea.

As Korea’s largest mobility platform, TMAP holds an unprecedented amount of transportation and mapping data gathered over the last 20 years. This data will inform the partners’ design of optimal air taxi routes, infrastructure networks, and an overall mobility service that suits the preferences of Korean consumers.

TMAP also jointly owns on-demand ride-hailing app UT along with Uber, a partner to Joby since 2019, which will enable multi-modal journeys that seamlessly integrate both ground and air travel.

Together with SK Telecom, Korea’s leading telecommunications company, TMAP and Joby will work together to integrate emissions-free aerial ridesharing into TMAP’s transportation services.

“TMAP’s deep knowledge and understanding of mobility needs across Korea, along with millions of daily users across Korea, makes them a great partner and platform through which to bring our aerial ridesharing service to customers,” said Justin Lang, Head of Partnerships and Corporate Strategy at Joby. “South Korea is a remarkable opportunity for our aircraft to improve lives and save people time, and working with SKT and TMAP puts us in the best position to deliver a revolutionary service that is clean, quiet, and affordable.”

Joby and SKT previously announced an agreement to work closely on introducing emissions-free aerial ridesharing to Korean cities and communities in support of the “K-UAM” (Korean Urban Air Mobility) Roadmap laid out by the South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport.

Commenting on the announcement, Lee Jong Ho, CEO of TMAP Mobility, said: “By cooperating with Joby, TMAP will become a platform operator that can offer a seamless transportation service between the ground and the sky.”

While Joby’s aerial ridesharing service will be operated directly by the company and offered to passengers via the Joby app or Uber app in core US markets, this announcement reflects Joby’s strategy to partner with local companies committed to delivering exceptional customer service and operational excellence to launch its service in select international markets.

With a maximum range of 150 miles (241 kilometers), a top speed of 200 mph (321 km/h), and a low noise profile that will allow it to access urban areas, Joby's piloted electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft is designed to make convenient, emissions-free air travel an everyday reality.

 

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Joby Resumes Flight Testing of eVTOL Aircraft

Joby Aviation, the California-based company developing an all-electric aircraft for commercial passenger service, has announced its second pre-production prototype aircraft has resumed flight testing at the Company’s pilot production facility in Marina, CA.

The aircraft first flew in January, having received approval to fly from both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the U.S. Air Force. To date, it has made 38 flights, reaching speeds of more than 90 miles per hour, in support of the Company’s aircraft type certification program.

“We’re excited to be back in the air with our second pre-production prototype aircraft, building on the tremendous flight test achievements our team has made to date,” said Didier Papadopoulos, Head of Programs and Systems at Joby.

“Last year alone, we flew more than 5,300 miles, generating 65 terabytes of flight test data and demonstrating an endurance of 154.6 miles on a single charge.”

Joby’s internal safety review board lifted the Company’s pause on flight testing earlier this week, which it voluntarily introduced following an accident involving the Company’s first pre-production prototype earlier this year.

Joby continues to work closely with the FAA and National Transportation Safety Bureau (NTSB) to investigate the accident and provides regular briefings on its flight test plans.

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Joby Becomes First eVTOL Company to Submit Area-Specific Certification Plan

Joby Aviation, a California-based company developing an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for commercial passenger service, today announced it has submitted its first area-specific certification plan to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), believed to be an industry first.

The plan, which is the first of several that Joby will be required to submit, brings the company one step closer to receiving type certification for its aircraft, laying out the combination of design reports, analysis and testing that it will employ to demonstrate compliance with rigorous FAA safety standards for one functional area of the aircraft.

“Today’s milestone is the result of many years of hard work by both the Joby team and the FAA,” said Didier Papadopoulos, Head of Programs and Systems at Joby. “It’s also another indication of the great momentum we have on the certification front. With more than two thirds of our means of compliance now agreed with the FAA, we’re looking forward to maintaining that momentum with the submission of further certification plans in the near future.”

The certification plan submitted earlier this week is focused on cabin safety, comprising the integrity of materials, seats, and occupant restraints used in the interior of the aircraft.

In February, Joby announced it had completed its first series of FAA conformity tests to confirm the material strength of the composite material comprising the aerostructure of the aircraft. In 2020, Joby became the first and only electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) company to sign a G-1 (stage 4) certification basis with the FAA, having received an initial (stage 2) signed G-1 from the FAA in 2019.

Joby’s piloted five-seat eVTOL aircraft can carry four passengers at speeds of up to 200 mph, with a maximum range of 150 miles on a single charge. With more than 10 years of development and over a thousand flight tests completed, Joby is targeting the launch of its aerial ridesharing service in 2024.

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Joby completes initial FAA systems compliance reviews for aircraft certification

Joby Aviation has completed and gained its first Systems Review and its first Compliance Review by the Federal Aviation Administration.

These reviews, completed at the end of last year, were recently granted approval by the FAA, providing the Company with confidence in its development approach, preliminary production design, and defined path toward certification.

The Systems Review assessed Joby’s plans and process for the development of complex, safety-critical, aerospace-grade systems and equipment. Systems involved in the review included flight controls, propulsion controls, battery management, among many others.

The Compliance Review evaluated Joby’s approach to the development and verification of aerospace-grade software and airborne electronic hardware.

“The safety of modern aircraft owe much to rigorous, well-defined and repeatable development and verification processes. Successfully completing our first System Review and Compliance Review demonstrates that Joby’s engineering practices are maturing to a level where they can be applied for the most demanding safety-critical development while producing all the required certification data to prove our design to one of the world’s toughest and most respected regulators,” said Tom Ferrell, Development Assurance Lead at Joby.

Joby’s piloted five-seat electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft can carry four passengers at speeds of up to 200 mph (320 km/h), with a maximum range of 150 miles (240 km). With more than 10 years of development and over a thousand flight tests completed, Joby is targeting the launch of its aerial ridesharing service in 2024.

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Joby Nears Completion of Part 135 Air Carrier Certification

Joby Aviation, a California-based company developing all-electric aircraft for commercial passenger service, today announced the Company has begun the fourth of five stages to receive its Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

A Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate is required for Joby to operate its revolutionary electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft as an air taxi service in cities and communities around the United States. Alongside a Type Certificate and Production Certificate, this is one of three regulatory approvals critical to the planned launch of Joby’s all-electric aerial ridesharing service in 2024.

After filing an initial application for a Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate in June 2021, Joby completed the second stage in August, which includes the submission of a complete package of manuals. The third and fourth stages involve FAA review and approval of manuals and FAA observation of the Company performing operations to ensure full regulatory compliance.

Last week, Joby entered the fourth stage of the process, with FAA representatives beginning to observe Joby’s initial cadre of pilot instructors as they demonstrate mastery of training and operational procedures using the Company’s prepared manuals and training program.

The fifth phase is FAA final approval and issuance of the Part 135 certificate. Joby expects to complete the Part 135 certification process later this year.

“Our aspiration is to not just build and certify a revolutionary aircraft, but to operate a commercial passenger service that saves people time with minimal impact on the environment,” said Bonny Simi, Head of Air Operations and People at Joby. “Achieving a Part 135 certification unlocks the ability to do that, and we’re moving through the process ahead of schedule.”

Joby recently announced a partnership with CAE, a global leader in aviation training, to develop and qualify flight simulation training devices that Joby will use to train commercially-rated pilots to fly the Company’s eVTOL aircraft.

Joby’s quiet, all-electric aircraft is designed to transport a pilot and four passengers with zero operation emissions at speeds of up to 200 mph. With a revolutionary low noise footprint and a demonstrated maximum range of 150 miles on a single charge, Joby aims to launch commercial service in 2024.

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ANA HOLDINGS and Joby Partner to Bring Air Taxi Service to Japan

Japan’s largest airline joins forces with leading eVTOL company to establish aerial ridesharing service in Japan

A future journey from Osaka station to Kansai International Airport could be reduced to less than 15 minutes, compared to one hour by car

ANA HOLDINGS, INC. and Joby Aviation, Inc. announced they are forming a partnership that will see Japan’s largest airline join with Joby to bring aerial ridesharing services to Japan. Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) also joined the partnership, with the intention of exploring opportunities such as ground-based transportation.

Joby is a California-based company developing an all-electric, five-seat aircraft that can take off and land vertically (eVTOL). With a maximum range of 150 miles (241 kilometers), a top speed of 200 mph (321 km/h) and a low noise profile to allow it to access built-up areas, Joby's piloted aircraft is designed to make convenient, emissions-free air travel an everyday reality. For example, the 31-mile (50 km) journey from Osaka station to Kansai International Airport could take less than 15 minutes by air rather than one hour by car.

ANA and Joby are set to collaborate on all aspects of establishing this revolutionary new form of transportation in Japan, including the development of infrastructure, pilot training, flight operations, air traffic management, public acceptance, and the regulatory requirements to operate. The integration with ground transportation will also be considered, with Toyota supporting the effort. The parties will also conduct joint discussions with relevant private companies as well as local and national governments.

The partners are all existing members of Japan’s Public-Private Conference for the Future Air Mobility Revolution, established by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Investment and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism to accelerate the adoption of aerial ridesharing in the country.

SKT and Joby Join Forces to Bring Air Taxi Service to South Korea

SK Telecom, South Korea’s leading telecommunications company, and Joby Aviation, a California-based company developing an all-electric, five-seat aircraft that can take off and land vertically (eVTOL), today announced they will work together to introduce emissions-free aerial ridesharing services to cities and communities across South Korea.

SKT’s CEO Ryu Young-sang and Joby’s founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt signed a strategic collaboration agreement at Joby’s manufacturing facility in Marina, California. The agreement will see the two companies work closely on introducing this revolutionary form of transportation in support of the South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport’s “K-UAM” (Korean Urban Air Mobility) Roadmap, first announced in 2020.

With a maximum range of 150 miles (241 kilometers), a top speed of 200 mph (321 km/h), and a low noise profile that will allow it to access built-up areas, Joby's piloted aircraft is designed to make convenient, emissions-free air travel an everyday reality.

SKT has been promoting the development of urban air mobility by leveraging its expertise in telecommunications, autonomous driving, precise positioning, and security to become a leading company in connected intelligence. As a member of the “UAM Team Korea”, SKT is also working together with other major Korean companies to enhance the nation’s competitiveness in the field.

The partners intend to leverage SK’s T Map mobility platform, Korea’s largest mobility platform, and UT ride hailing service to provide multi-modal journeys to customers seamlessly integrating both ground and air travel. UT was established as a joint venture between SKT and Uber in 2021, bringing together SK’s T Map platform and Uber’s ride sharing technology. Joby and Uber have been collaborating since 2019.

Joby Increases Flight Test Capacity in Support of FAA Certification Goal

Joby Aviation, the California-based company developing all-electric aircraft for commercial passenger service, confirmed it received FAA Special Airworthiness Certification and US Air Force Airworthiness Approval for a second pre-production prototype aircraft in December 2021, as expected.

The first pre-production prototype generated 65 terabytes of test data in 2021, flying more than 5,300 miles, including what is believed to be the longest flight of an eVTOL aircraft to date, at 154.6 miles on a single charge.

As planned, the second aircraft will significantly accelerate Joby’s capacity for flight testing in 2022, further supporting the Company’s ambition to certify its aircraft with the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) in time to launch commercial operations in 2024. The aircraft is expected to begin flying later this month and will be put into service as part of Joby’s Agility Prime contract with the US Air Force.

Commenting on the milestone, JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby, said: “Our 2021 flight test program delivered a wealth of information and experience to support our program. With two aircraft flying at the same time, we’ll be able to increase the speed of our learnings as planned, while continuing to fulfill the requirements of our Agility Prime contract.

Joby Completes Acquisition of Radar Developer Inras GmbH

Joby Aviation, a California-based company developing all-electric aircraft for commercial passenger service, announced its acquisition of Inras GmbH, a leader in radar system design based in Linz, Austria.

Co-founded by Andreas Haderer and Andreas Stelzer, the five-person team brings academic and commercial leadership in the design of radiofrequency (RF) systems, processing boards, real-time signal processing and advanced radar sensors. Stelzer is Chair of Johannes Kepler University’s renowned RF-Systems Department, where he has been a professor since 2011.

“We look forward to integrating our advanced sensing technology into Joby’s electric air taxi. The technology we have developed will improve the aircraft’s onboard detection and navigation capabilities in preparation for scaled operations,” said Stelzer.

“As we grow our team here in Linz, we’re thrilled to further develop RF systems that are foundational to the future of sustainable aviation.”

Joby Aviation, is a California-headquartered transportation company developing an all-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft which it intends to operate as part of a fast, quiet, and convenient air taxi service beginning in 2024. The aircraft, which has a maximum range of 150 miles on a single charge, can transport a pilot and four passengers at speeds of up to 200 mph. It is designed to help reduce urban congestion and accelerate the shift to sustainable modes of transit. Founded in 2009, Joby employs around 1,000 people, with offices in Santa Cruz, San Carlos, and Marina, California, as well as Washington, D.C. and Munich, Germany.

Joby’s acquisition of Inras is emblematic of the Company’s strategy to maintain leadership in key advanced technologies by seeking out proven leaders in their field — wherever they are in the world. The transaction will see Stelzer and Haderer’s team remain in Linz, a growing hotbed for RF-related commercial and research activity, with additional resources.

“We have been continually impressed with Inras since we began working with them to develop custom radar systems for our aircraft,” said JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby.

“They are leaders in solving the challenges associated with airborne sensing and autonomy and we are excited to welcome them to Joby as we move toward integrating more advanced detection capabilities in the future,” Bevirt added.

With a maximum range of 150 miles recently demonstrated during flight testing, and a top speed of 200 mph, Joby’s all-electric aircraft is designed to carry four passengers and a pilot with zero operating emissions. The Company began flying full-scale prototypes in 2017 and has completed more than 1,000 flight tests. Joby aims to launch passenger service in 2024, offering a fast, clean, and quiet way for people to move within congested metropolitan areas and other communities.

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Paul Rinaldi becomes latest member of Joby Aviation's advisory board

Joby Aviation, a California-based company developing all-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for commercial passenger service, today announced the appointment of Paul Rinaldi, former President of the National Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (NATCA), to its Advisory Board.

Rinaldi was president of NATCA from 2009-2021, the longest-serving elected leader in the organization’s history. During his tenure, Rinaldi worked extensively with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to improve airspace safety. Prior to assuming leadership positions at NATCA, Rinaldi worked for 15 years as an air traffic controller at Washington-Dulles Tower (IAD).

Rinaldi’s work to improve airspace safety and deep relationships with airspace management stakeholders — including as Vice President of the Global Air Traffic Controllers Alliance — will prove invaluable to Joby’s success as a commercial operator.

Rinaldi joins Joby as the Company focuses on receiving FAA certification for its aircraft, launching scaled manufacturing, and laying the groundwork for planned initial passenger operations in 2024. As a member of the Advisory Board, Rinaldi will support and advise Joby on the steps necessary to safely integrate flights into the National Airspace System.

“Paul knows what it takes to ensure the continued safety and efficiency of the airspace and air traffic management system,” said JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby. “His expertise will be so valuable as we work toward making fast and clean everyday flight a reality with our aircraft.”

Commenting on his appointment, Rinaldi added: “I have had the privilege of working closely with air traffic controllers’ unions, the FAA, and many other stakeholders to maintain the safety of our airspace, and I look forward to continuing that mission with Joby to shape and integrate an entirely new form of air transportation. JoeBen and his team have designed a revolutionary aircraft, and I believe they will completely change the way we think about flight in the decades to come.”

During his tenure as president of NATCA, Rinaldi held positions on the FAA’s Management Advisory Council (MAC) and NextGen Advisory Committee (NAC).

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Joby has done more than 150 miles with electric vertical take-off air taxi

Joby Aero, the California-based company that is developing an all-electric air taxi for commercial passenger service has made another leap forward in the programme when the company confirmed it had flown a full-size prototype vehicle more than 150 miles on a single charge, including a vertical take-off and landing.

The flight was completed at Joby’s Electric Flight Base in Big Sur, CA earlier this month as part of the company’s ongoing flight test campaign. The aircraft, piloted from the ground by Joby’s Chief Test Pilot, Justin Paines, took off vertically before transitioning to forward flight and completing 11 laps of a predefined circuit. After more than 1 hour and 17 minutes in the air, the aircraft landed vertically, having covered a total distance of 154.6 statute miles.

Commenting on the milestone, JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby, said: “We’ve achieved something that many thought impossible with today’s battery technology.  By doing so we’ve taken the first step towards making convenient, emissions-free air travel between places like San Francisco and Lake Tahoe, Houston and Austin, or Los Angeles and San Diego an everyday reality.”

Joby Aviation named as one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2021

Joby Aviation, part of the JetBlue Group has been named on Fast Company’s prestigious annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2021. 

The annual list is compiled by Fast Company reporters and editors who survey thousands of enterprises around the world to identify the most notable innovators of the year.

Joby Aviation is a transportation company developing an all-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft that it intends to operate as a commercial passenger aircraft beginning in 2024.

Following a decade spent developing a piloted eVTOL aircraft with more than 1,000 test flights conducted to date, Joby has been recognized by Fast Company as a leader with significant first-mover advantages in the emerging aerial ridesharing industry. Joby’s superior technology and strategic partnerships with leading companies such as Uber and Toyota set the company apart in the field as it continues advancing its mission to transform transportation with the introduction of a clean, quiet, and convenient aerial ridesharing service starting in 2024.

JetBlue's Joby Aviation expects to see its air taxis flying over American cities within ten years.

Joby Aviation, a portfolio company of budget carrier JetBlue's venture capital arm releases footage of its revolutionary all-electric, vertical take-off and landing aircraft in flight. The company is also celebrating an important milestone on its journey to making its air taxi service a reality. 

 With more than 1,000 test flights completed over the last 10 years, Joby intends to use its piloted, four-passenger aircraft to launch a commercial passenger service beginning in 2024.

The company expects to revolutionize how people move by unlocking the possibility to leapfrog over the gridlock below in its emissions-free vehicle, which can travel up to 150 miles at speeds up to 200 miles per hour. The aircraft is quiet in take-off and near silent when flying overhead.

The company also announced earlier today that it has entered into a definitive business combination agreement with Reinvent Technology Partners a special purpose acquisition company that takes a ‘venture capital at scale’ approach to partnering with bold leaders and companies.