Achieving carbon neutrality and subsequently net-zero emissions by 2050 represents a titanic effort and stratospheric costs for the industry. In Europe alone, it is estimated that the transition will require investments of around 800 billion euros.
However, there are companies that are making significant progress. This is the case of Joby Aviation, a company developing all-electric aircraft for commercial passenger service.
Joby announced that it received a Special Airworthiness Certificate for the first aircraft built at its Pilot Production Line in Marina, California.
The authorization, issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), will allow them to begin flight testing of their first production prototype.
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eVTOL Technology
Following certification, the aircraft is expected to become the first eVTOL model to be delivered to a customer when it moves to Edwards Air Force Base in 2024 to be operated by Joby as part of the company’s Agility Prime contract with the U.S. Air Force worth up to $131 million.
Through its official website, Joby detailed that it has flown full-size aircraft since 2017 and its pre-production prototype aircraft has flown more than 30.000 miles since 2019.
The current production prototype builds on that experience and marks another important step toward achieving FAA certification and full-scale production.
Fruits Harvested
JoeBen Bevirt, Joby‘s Founder and CEO, noted that achieving certification represents an accomplishment and the culmination of years of investment in processes and technology.
“We are proud to have launched production in our home state of California. I am incredibly grateful to the Joby team for their commitment to ensuring Joby remains the undisputed leader in this new sector and to Toyota for sharing their knowledge and expertise with us over many years. Their support has been indispensable in helping us get to this point,” he stressed.
California Governor Gavin Newsom visited the Joby facility to meet with team members and celebrate the company’s progress.
“California is proud to be home to some of the most innovative companies in the world. Joby is changing the game when it comes to the next frontier of flight: zero-emissions aviation,” said Governor Gavin Newsom.
“Our world-leading climate action is built on technological breakthroughs and the pioneering spirit of the private sector. Creating jobs and reducing pollution: that’s the California way,” the official concluded.
