Looks to Speed Up Pace of Certification, Flight Testing, and Approval for 2022

Joby Aviation has completed its second prototype aircraft in an effort to speed up its flight testing schedule heading into 2022, recently receiving its Special Airworthiness Certificate and US Air Force approval.

JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO said the pre-production campaign has been an enormous effort for the young eVTOL design, logging 65 terabytes of test data in 2021 alone. The addition of a second demonstrator will help to quicken the pace, and Joby intends for it to help see the design obtain FAA certification in time for a commercial operations launch in 2024. The as-yet-unnamed aircraft #2 will see service as a part of the company's Agility Prime contract with the USAF.

Joby says the rapid pace of approval from the Air Force has shown a willingness to work alongside innovators and streamline requirements to get new programs moving. The company's aircraft has built a solid name for itself, with consistent endurance allowing for 150+ miles of range on a single charge, a top speed in excess of 200 miles, and seating for four. Joby remains the only eVTOL company to obtain a G-1 Stage 4 certification basis with the FAA, beating a number of its competitors who have received their initial stage 2 in recent months, a mark passed by Joby in 2019. That headway could prove to be the company's ace, making them the brand to beat by grabbing as much of the nascent AAM market as they can. 

FMI: www.jobyaviation.com