Joby begins conformity testing for FAA credit, inches closer toward type certification

Joby Aviation said it has reached a key milestone on the path to achieving type certification for its eVTOL aircraft.

The eVTOL developer began conformity testing with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) this week, marking the start of the implementation phase for Joby’s type certification process.

The company announced yesterday that it has finished the first in a series of tests that are monitored by an on-site FAA designated engineering representative (DER) at the Toray Advanced Composites facility in Morgan Hill, California.

“After years of development and company testing, we’re excited to formally begin the process of conformity testing,” said JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby, in a press release.

Before the California-based eVTOL developer can receive its type certification, every system and structure of Joby’s aircraft needs to be tested to demonstrate airworthiness and safety to the FAA — the company said it expects to finish thousands of tests before receiving its type certification.

This particular test was meant to confirm the material strength of certain composite parts that are constructed using a toughened epoxy and what the company calls state-of-the-art carbon fiber that it believes is lighter and stronger than existing aerospace-grade composites.

“Entering this stage of testing demonstrates that we’re capable of manufacturing composite parts in accordance with their design, our quality system is capable of producing conforming composite parts for the aircraft, and that we have the requisite traceability and design verification processes in place to progress toward our type and production certifications,” said Lina Spross, quality and supply chain lead at Joby.

Joby started working with the FAA in 2015 to begin the process of certifying its eVTOL aircraft. In 2020, Joby became the first eVTOL company to sign a G-1 stage 4 certification basis with the FAA, after received its initial stage 2 signed G-1 in 2019. The company is targeting certification under FAA’s Part 23 regulations for a traditional airplane in 2023, and expects to begin commercial operations with its air taxi in 2024.

Designed to carry a pilot and four passengers, Joby’s eVTOL aircraft is targeting a range of up to 150 miles (241 kilometers) on a single charge, and speeds of up to 200 mph (321 km/h).

Along with manufacturing eVTOLs, Joby also plans to operate its air taxi service using its own rideshare app or Uber’s rideshare platform to service the U.S. market. Earlier this week, the California-based company announced a partnership with SK Telecom that will open the door for Joby’s air taxis to service the South Korean market.