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Joby Aviation Inc. (Santa Cruz, Calif., U.S.) announced it has begun flight testing its first Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-conforming aircraft for type inspection authorization (TIA), a major step on the path to type certification (TC). Initial testing by Joby pilots will pave the way for FAA pilots to visit Joby’s Marina, California, facility later in 2026 to conduct the rigorous TIA testing required to validate the aircraft for commercial service.
The announcement came just days after the U.S. government cleared the way for mature aircraft designs like Joby’s to begin early operations across the U.S., as part of the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP). Through the program, Joby has the opportunity to fly in Arizona, Florida, Idaho, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas and Utah, marking the potential to significantly accelerate Joby’s path to commercial service.
“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,” said Didier Papadopoulos, president of aircraft OEM at Joby. “After focusing on ‘for credit’ testing at both the equipment and system levels, we’re now moving into the final phase of aircraft-level evaluations. This is evidence that our rigorous design and certification process is paying off, and we look forward to welcoming FAA pilots to Marina in due course.”
The aircraft (N547JX) is the first of a fleet currently in production to support TIA testing, and has been assembled using an airframe and components built to FAA Designated Engineering Representative-approved designs and signed off by FAA Designated Airworthiness Representatives, as specified in Joby’s FAA-approved test plans.
The pace at which Joby has been able to move from prototype to conforming aircraft is rooted in its vertically integrated approach. The vast majority of the aircraft’s components are designed, engineered, tested and manufactured in-house, reducing reliance on third party suppliers, improving quality control and shortening lead times.
