NASA, Joby Research Provide Glimpse of Air Taxi Operations at US Airports

A series of simulations focused on potential operations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, using tools and procedures already available to air traffic controllers.

Jack Daleo

Thursday, December 21, 2023 at 03:56 PM ET

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NASA and Joby recruited air traffic controllers to conduct 360-degree simulations of eVTOL operations around airports. [Courtesy: Joby Aviation]

Key Takeaways:

NASA and Joby Aviation conducted successful virtual simulations in Dallas-Fort Worth, demonstrating how hundreds of eVTOL air taxis could operate in complex airspace.
The simulations, involving active and retired air traffic controllers, validated that existing ATC tools and procedures can safely integrate eVTOLs at scale alongside current airport traffic.
This effort aligns with the FAA's Innovate28 plan and provides promising data to guide the near-term and future nationwide integration of air taxis, potentially reducing carbon emissions and improving commutes.

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Recently, hundreds of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis took flight over the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Missed it? That’s because the flights took place virtually at a NASA research hub.

The space agency and eVTOL manufacturer Joby Aviation recently teamed up to recruit active and retired air traffic controllers for a series of simulations, which explored how current ATC tools and procedures could help introduce the first wave of air taxis at U.S. airports. The partners tested how hundreds of eVOL flights per hour would impact operations in complex airspace—and gleaned a few key insights.