Joby (JOBY.US) starts test flight of the first eVTOL model that meets FAA standards, taking an important step towards commercialization.

Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) company Joby Aviation (JOBY.US) announced on Thursday that it has started flight tests of its first electric air taxi that meets the standards of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States. This milestone is seen as a step towards FAA type certification and ultimately achieving commercial passenger services. The initial flight tasks are being carried out by Joby's pilots at the company's testing facility in Marina, California, with the aim of paving the way for FAA pilots to begin Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) tests later in 2026. The aircraft, registered as N547JX, is the first in the fleet built to support TIA testing, assembled using FAA-approved designs, and its components have been signed off according to Joby's FAA-approved testing plan. Prior to this progress with eVTOL, the U.S. government recently approved mature designs like Joby's to begin early operations this year. Joby expects to have flight opportunities in multiple states such as Arizona, Florida, New Jersey, New York, and Texas, which could significantly accelerate its path to commercial service. Joby attributes the speed of its transformation from prototype to certified aircraft to its vertically integrated model in which the company designs, develops, tests, and manufactures the majority of its parts internally, reducing reliance on suppliers, strengthening quality control, and shortening delivery cycles.