Joby Completes First Piloted eVTOL Flight

Joby Aviation has successfully completed its first piloted electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi flight between Marina (OAR) and Monterey (MRY) airports in California. The flight was conducted in FAA-controlled airspace alongside other aircraft and included vertical takeoff, transition to wingborne flight, integration with air traffic control, and vertical landing. The trip covered 10 nautical miles in approximately 12 minutes, including five minutes in a holding pattern at Monterey for spacing with other aircraft.

“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,” said Didier Papadopoulos, President of Aircraft OEM at Joby. “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.”

The flight demonstrated Joby’s ability to conduct mobile flight tests and provide ground support operations away from its home base. It also tested human factors, pilot training, and aircraft systems while adhering to air traffic control protocols similar to those of major airlines. This milestone builds on Joby’s history of flight testing, which has accumulated over 40,000 miles across its fleet, and advances the company’s progress toward FAA certification. Joby is planning commercial service domestically in Los Angeles and New York City following certification.