Joby Begins Flight Testing of First FAA-Conforming eVTOL

The electric air taxi company takes a major step toward type certification for its aircraft.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 5:17pm

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Joby Aviation announced that it has begun flight testing for its first FAA-conforming electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, a major milestone in the company's path to type certification and commercial service. The initial test flights will be conducted by Joby pilots, followed later this year by FAA pilots who will perform the required Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) tests.

Why it matters

Joby's successful first flight of its FAA-conforming eVTOL aircraft represents a significant advancement in the company's efforts to bring its electric air taxi to market. The TIA testing process is a critical step toward achieving type certification, which is required for the aircraft to enter commercial service.

The details

The first FAA-conforming aircraft to fly, registered as N547JX, was assembled using airframe and components built to FAA-approved designs and signed off by FAA Designated Airworthiness Representatives. Joby claims its vertically integrated approach, where the majority of aircraft components are designed, engineered, tested, and manufactured in-house, has allowed the company to move from prototype to conforming aircraft at a faster pace.

  • The initial test flights will be conducted by Joby pilots.
  • FAA pilots will perform the required Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) tests later this year.

The players

Joby Aviation

An electric air taxi company that is developing an eVTOL aircraft for commercial service.

Didier Papadopoulos

The President of Aircraft OEM at Joby Aviation.

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What they’re saying

“Seeing this aircraft fly means everything to our team. It's the validation of years of hard work and marks our entry into the final phase of bringing this aircraft to market.”

— Didier Papadopoulos, President of Aircraft OEM

What’s next

Joby expects to be capable of supporting the delivery of up to 500 aircraft per year over time, and the company was recently selected for the U.S. government's eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, which will allow it to begin early operations in several states later in 2026.

The takeaway

Joby's successful first flight of its FAA-conforming eVTOL aircraft represents a significant milestone in the company's efforts to bring its electric air taxi to market, as it moves closer to achieving the type certification required for commercial service.