Joby Aviation has received a certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to operate aircraft commercially.
While it eventually plans to provide eVTOL services, the company will use its Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate to begin operations using a conventional aircraft in order to “refine systems and procedures”.
“The procedures we’ve prepared lay a foundation for our future eVTOL operations,” Bonny Simi, Head of Air Operations and People at Joby explained in a statement. “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.”
The Joby S4 eVTOL aircraft has yet to be certified by the FAA. The all-electric aircraft is powered by six rotors and can carry five people, including the pilot. It will offer a range of up to 240 kilometers (150 miles) on a single charge at speeds of up to 320 kilometers per hour (200 miles per hour).
A remotely controlled prototype crashed as it was carrying out a test flight on February 16, 2022. However, flights resumed in late March 2022 with a second pre-production aircraft.