eVTOL Picks A Compact Receiver

Joby has finalized its shopping process for one more piece of the production puzzle, opting for Aspen Avionics' NexNav Mini GPS-SBAS Receiver Circuit Card Assembly (CCA).

The unit will be integrated into Joby's eVTOL aircraft as part of its Vehicle Navigation Computer (VNC), joining a retinue of gear from across the industry. From a pilot's point of view, it's all going to be background noise in the back of their POH one day, but for now, news like this alerts the industry about how close these eVTOL brands are to actual production. Pilots will enjoy a pretty standard flight deck with a Garmin G3000, but the rest of the outfittings are up in the air. Fans of the Joby line may recall Honeywell was integrated into development a few years back, but their work seems to be focused on the control systems, fly-by-wire, and vehicle management side of things.

The nitty gritty, according to the brochure, says "The NexNav Mini GPS-SBAS Receiver CCA is FAA TSO-C204 Class Beta 1 authorized and delivers high-integrity position, velocity, and precise time data to the VNC—mission-critical for autonomous navigation and advanced flight safety systems."

“We’re thrilled to partner with Joby Aviation, a company that is leading the way in transforming air mobility,” said Dan O'Donnell, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Advanced Avionics, AIRO, and leader of Aspen Avionics. “Supplying our NexNav Mini for the Joby eVTOL marks a significant milestone in our commitment to enabling the next generation of electric aviation. This partnership highlights our shared vision for a safer, smarter, and more sustainable future in the skies.”

FMI: www.aspenavionics.com