California-based Joby Aviation, Inc. has received initial approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to begin on-demand commercial air taxi operations. The company is developing all-electric aircraft for commercial passenger service.
Joby received the FAA certification ahead of schedule, with completion of the process originally expected in the second half of 2022.
The approval process included the submission of more than 850 pages of manuals for approval and required Joby’s pilots to demonstrate mastery of the company’s procedures and training under FAA observation.
Joby will need further official approval to begin operating its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft as an air taxi service in cities and communities across the US.
The company’s aerial ridesharing service is expected to launch 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.
Bonny Simi, Head of Air Operations and People at Joby, and one of its FAA-approved pilots, says: “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,” adds Simi.
Founded in 2009, Joby employs more than 1,000 people, with offices in Santa Cruz, San Carlos, and Marina, California, as well as Washington, D.C. and Munich, Germany.