Joby Aviation Receives FAA Certification for Flight Control
Words by
Sarah Wing
The EVTOL pioneer clears a major regulatory hurdle, bringing urban air mobility one step closer to commercial reality.
Joby Aviation has announced that the FAA has formally accepted its certification plan for its propulsion and flight control systems. This is a pivotal milestone in the 'Type Certification' process, which is required before any new aircraft can enter commercial service.
The California-based startup is developing an all-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft designed to carry a pilot and four passengers at speeds of up to 200 mph. The aircraft is intended for use in urban air taxi networks, potentially turning hour-long ground commutes into ten-minute flights.
Joby's approach to certification has been described as 'methodical and conservative,' utilizing many existing aerospace standards while working with the FAA to define new safety criteria for electric distributed propulsion. With this hurdle cleared, the company remains on track to launch commercial services in partnership with Delta Air Lines in New York and Los Angeles by late 2025.