Joby Aviation, a leading electric aviation company based in Northern California, announced that it has received its first certification from the Federal Aviation Administration . The agency awarded the company with a Part 135 Air Carrier Certification, which Joby will need to operate an on-demand air taxi service. The certification was awarded ahead of schedule, with Joby initially targeting the second half of 2022 for its receipt.
Joby and other electric vertical takeoff and landing companies hope to eventually win FAA certification, but that process will likely take a long time. Some experts have said it will be five years or maybe longer before the FAA grants certification to an eVTOL company — which it has yet to do. Joby says that once it receives a type certificate for its eVTOL aircraft, the company will complete the FAA review process to add the new aircraft type to its existing air carrier certificate.