Joby has completed the first successful piloted eVTOL airport-to-airport flight, an achievement that demonstrates advances in safety, operational readiness, air traffic control integration and certification progress.
The 12-minute flight covered 10 nautical miles between Marina Municipal Airport (OAR) and Monterey Regional Airport (MRY), including a five-minute hold at MRY to sequence with conventional traffic. Joby’s aircraft carried out a vertical takeoff, transitioned to wingborne flight, entered controlled airspace, and completed a vertical landing.
Marking the first time a piloted eVTOL air taxi has flown between two public airports, the mission also proved the team’s ability to conduct mobile flight tests and deliver full ground support operations away from its home base in Marina.
These critical flight tests supplied developmental data related to the human factors of operating the aircraft at a controlled airport and in the enroute national airspace. In particular, Joby’s ability to integrate into controlled airspace was shown when its aircraft successfully sequenced with other aircraft at Monterey Airport, including a holding pattern to accommodate another arriving airliner.
Joby’s aircraft systems, pilot certification, and training were on full display by adhering to the same air traffic control protocols as a major airline. This marks a significant step in the Company’s certification efforts, as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires aircraft to demonstrate they can operate in shared airspace by flying between multiple airports. Joby sees the flight as a critical measure towards commercialization, demonstrating the type of real-world service the company intends to offer to the public.
Didier Papadopoulos, President of Aircraft OEM at Joby, said, “Successfully flying from Marina to Monterey showcased operations of our aircraft integrated in the broader transportation network and further validated its performance to ensure we’re prepared for service on day one. For years, our flight testing has validated our aircraft’s capabilities, and we’ve done this across a wide range of environmental conditions. As part of the natural progression of our flight test program, it was time to venture further, and there was no better place to visit first than our neighbors in Monterey.”
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.
