Joby Aviation, a company developing all-electric aircraft for commercial passenger flights, has received a Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate from the FAA, allowing the company to begin operations.
The certification was received ahead of schedule, with the completion of the process originally expected in the second half of 2022. The five-stage process included the submission of over 850 pages of manuals for approval and required Joby’s first round of pilots to showcase their mastery of the company’s procedures and training under FAA observation.
Joby has already partnered with CAE to develop and quality a flight simulation training device to train commercially-rated pilots to fly its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
The piloted all-electric aircraft can transport four passengers at speeds of up to 200 mph, with a maximum range of 150 miles on a single charge and zero operating emissions.
The Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate is one of three FAA approvals required for Joby to operate its eVTOL aircraft as an air taxi service in cities around the United States, alongside a Type Certificate and a Production Certificate.
“The procedures we’ve prepared lay a foundation for our future eVTOL operations,” said Bonny Simi, Head of Air Operations and People at Joby. “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.”
Joby’s next step is to receive a type certificate for its eVTOL aircraft, allowing the company to complete the FAA review process to add the new aircraft type to its existing air carrier certificate.
After more than 10 years of development and over a thousand flight tests completed, Joby is targeting the launch of the aerial ridesharing service in 2024.
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