Joby Aviation formed a partnership with Aviation High School in New York City to prepare the next generation of aircraft maintenance technicians and aerospace leaders for career opportunities created by the electric age of flight.

Joby’s partnership with the school comes shortly after the company announced a multi-year partnership with Delta Air Lines to deliver transformational, sustainable home-to-airport service for Delta customers, beginning in New York and Los Angeles.

"Celebrated an exciting partnership between Aviation High School and Joby Aviation that will train students to pilot new electric air taxis starting in 2025. This partnership will provide future graduates of Aviation High School with new career pathways and opportunities to maintain, repair, and service these new air taxis of the future and promote climate justice in aviation," said Council Member Julie Won.

As part of the partnership, 100 Aviation High School students have already enrolled in Joby’s online Private Pilot Ground School course, which teaches the basics of aerodynamics, aviation and piloting. Joby will also work with the school’s faculty to integrate material on electric propulsion systems and other new technologies into its curriculum.

“Industry partnerships such as the one between Aviation High School and Joby Aviation are key in ensuring our career-pathways programs are exciting, relevant to students’ interests, and valuable in preparing our young people for life after graduation,” New York City Schools Chancellor David C. Banks said.

Joby recently brought four virtual-reality simulators to Aviation High School, located in Long Island City. Students had the opportunity to virtually pilot the company’s electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, which has a dramatically lower noise signature than traditional helicopters and produces zero emissions during flight.

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr., commented: “The aviation industry is taking off in Queens as LaGuardia Airport’s redevelopment wraps up and Kennedy Airport’s revitalization gets underway. It is critical that the tens of thousands of jobs created by these projects are filled by Queens residents, and that our young people especially are easily connected to these employment opportunities of tomorrow. I look forward to partnering with Aviation High School, Joby Aviation, the Port Authority and all our partners to ensure that Queens is at the forefront of the reimagining of our airports.”