Joby Aviation, a company developing electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for commercial passenger service, is collaborating with Atlantic Aviation to electrify existing aviation infrastructure in New York and Southern California, paving the way for the launch of Joby’s air taxi service.

The collaboration between Joby and Atlantic, a leading provider of aviation services and infrastructure, will focus on activating key Atlantic sites to support quiet, emissions-free air taxis, including the installation of Joby’s Global Electric Aviation Charging System (GEACS). The two companies will undertake a comprehensive analysis of how Joby’s air taxi can operate at these locations alongside traditional aircraft and other electric aircraft, offering customers a new way to move from point to point in congested cities that is quieter and more sustainable.

Atlantic has an extensive operational footprint in major cities across the United States, including numerous sites in the New York City and Los Angeles metropolitan areas, where Joby and Atlantic will initially focus their partnership.

Atlantic is focused on creating technology-agnostic critical infrastructure for aviation. Consistent with its existing business of providing FBO services, Atlantic aims to support all aircraft types that arrive at its facilities.

GEACS, the Joby-developed charging system for electric aircraft, is designed to support the safe and efficient operation of electric aircraft under development, reducing downtime between flights and maximizing the life of aircraft batteries. Joby recently released the technical specifications of GEACS – which is currently installed at Edwards Air Force Base and Joby’s flight testing facility in Marina, California – and is working with numerous electric aircraft developers to ensure interoperability.

“Through more than 30,000 miles of all-electric vertical flight with full-scale prototype aircraft, our team has fine-tuned a ground support system that allows for the simultaneous recharging of multiple battery packs, external coolant exchange, and secure data offload after flight – making it suitable for all electric aircraft,” said JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby Aviation.

Joby claims its air taxi can carry a pilot and four passengers at speeds of up to 200 mph, offering high-speed mobility with a fraction of the noise produced by helicopters and no in-flight emissions.

Joby recently completed the first flight of an electric air taxi in New York City, participating in an event held by the city’s leadership announcing their intent to electrify the iconic Downtown Manhattan Heliport.