Joby Successfully Conducts First FAA Testing under TIA, Begins Final Phase of Certification Program
Joby conducted its first testing under TIA on the flight deck of the company’s electric air taxi, with FAA pilots using FAA-conforming hardware in Marina, California. (Photo: Joby Aviation)
SANTA CRUZ, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE:JOBY), a company developing electric air taxis for commercial passenger service, today announced it has entered the final phase of certification for its electric air taxi, having conducted its first FAA testing under Type Inspection Authorization (“TIA”). The testing involved pilots from the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) evaluating human factors elements of flight safety using an FAA-conforming flight deck in a Joby simulator.
TIA testing is considered the final phase of the type certification process, which paves the way for an aircraft to begin commercial passenger operations. This phase involves FAA test pilots conducting testing to validate an aircraft’s performance and safety in accordance with previously-approved certification test plans.
“This milestone demonstrates Joby’s continued industry leadership and is a reflection of the maturity of our test program and the rigorous company testing we’ve already completed,” said JoeBen Bevirt, CEO and Founder at Joby Aviation.
“As well as continuing the ‘for credit’ testing of components, aerostructures and systems that is already underway, we are targeting the start of TIA flight testing in 2025 with our first FAA-conforming aircraft, which is currently being built at our facility in Marina, California.”
The tests were conducted according to a set of criteria outlined in an FAA-approved human factors certification test plan and measured pilot workload under various expected flight conditions, physical ergonomics of the flight deck, as well as other human factors aspects of aircraft safety. Four FAA test pilots completed three days of TIA testing during the engagement.
In another major achievement earlier this month, Joby announced it has successfully completed static load testing on a FAA-conforming tail structure of the aircraft, marking the first time the Company had tested a major aerostructure for FAA credit.
Joby is the first eVTOL manufacturer to complete three of five stages of the FAA type certification program and is more than 40 percent complete with the Company’s work for the fourth stage.
Joby’s electric air taxi is designed to carry a pilot and up to four passengers at speeds of up to 200 mph, offering high-speed mobility with a fraction of the noise produced by helicopters and zero operating emissions.
About Joby
Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE:JOBY) is a California-based transportation company developing an all-electric, vertical take-off and landing air taxi which it intends to operate as part of a fast, quiet, and convenient service in cities around the world. To learn more, visit www.jobyaviation.com.