Joby Flies First Electric Air Taxi Meeting FAA Design Criteria

Company until now had conducted testing using developmental and preproduction prototype aircraft.

Jack Daleo

Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 02:45 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Joby’s first FAA-conforming air taxi lifts off at the company’s test facility in Marina, California. [Credit: Joby Aviation]

Key Takeaways:

Joby Aviation is now flying its first FAA-conforming eVTOL aircraft, a significant milestone toward federal certification and having FAA test pilots evaluate the cockpit later this year.
This conforming model aligns with FAA design criteria, positioning Joby for full-aircraft Type Inspection Authorization as it plans extensive air taxi demonstrations across multiple US states and passenger service launch in Dubai this year via Uber.
The company has achieved 850 test flights in 2025, including piloted transitions, and is scaling up its manufacturing capabilities with a goal of producing 500 aircraft annually from its Ohio facilities.
Joby faces challenges including a rivalry with Archer Aviation concerning alleged ties to Chinese suppliers and geopolitical tensions potentially impacting its planned Dubai operations.

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California-based electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi developer Joby Aviation is advancing from testing with developmental models to aircraft that meet FAA design criteria—a critical step as it aims to get agency test pilots in the cockpit later this year.

Joby on Wednesday revealed that the company’s pilots are now flying its first “FAA-conforming” aircraft, N547JX. “Conforming” means that the model aligns with Joby’s agency-approved airworthiness criteria and test plans. In other words, it is representative of the aircraft the company intends to certify and operate.