Setting The Stage For Type Inspection Authorization By FAA Pilots

Joby Aviation announced the start of power-on testing of the first of its FAA-conforming aircraft built for TIA, or Type Inspection Authorization, that is the lead-up to “for credit” flight tests with FAA pilots operating the aircraft. Joby will now proceed to conduct thousands of hardware and software integration tests prior to the start of flight testing.

The first of Joby’s TIA-ready aircraft was manufactured under Joby’s established quality management system and adheres exactly to the intended type design for TIA testing. At this stage, all of the company’s TIA aircraft will be made with FAA-conforming components as required by Joby’s FAA-approved test plans. The components are built to FAA-Designated Engineering Representative-approved designs and inspected and signed off on by FAA Designated Airworthiness Representatives.

Didier Papadopoulos, President of Aircraft OEM at Joby said, “Beginning this aircraft subsystem testing is the culmination of more than a decade of focused engineering and certification refinements. This is the moment where our intended type design, our manufacturing process, and our certification strategy converge into one physical asset.

“It validates that we can design a safe aircraft and produce it reliably. This first testing step is one of the most important milestones in Joby’s history to date and puts us closer than ever to achieving FAA certification.”

Joby expects to begin “for credit” flight testing with Joby pilots later this year, and with FAA pilots at the controls in 2026.

FAA flight testing includes:

•  Performance Validation: FAA pilots and Joby test pilots will validate the aircraft’s performance envelope, including range, speed and energy management under real-world conditions.

•  Control and Handling: Pilots will test the flight controls and handling qualities across all regimes of flight, from vertical takeoff and landing through wingborne cruise and back to hover.

•  Maintenance and Operations: The TIA phase validates the operational procedures that will govern Joby’s commercial service, including inspecting maintenance manuals, pilot training curriculum, and verifying the functionality and reliability of all onboard systems, such as avionics, propulsion and redundancies.

The FAA will use data obtained from TIA testing to make the final determination on issuing a Type Certification for the aircraft, the final approval required to operate the aircraft commercially.

FMI:  www.jobyaviation.com/