Joby Aviation said Wednesday that it expects to begin flights in Texas next month under the federal eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP). The company is also targeting its first passenger operations under the program before the end of the year.
The company also announced Thursday that it has leased 45,000 square feet at Alliance Air Trade Center in Haslet, part of Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport. The company said the facility will serve as its North Texas base for eIPP flights and support future air taxi operations across the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Texas Operations
The Texas Department of Transportation is leading one of eight projects selected by the FAA in March. Joby, Archer Aviation, Beta Technologies and Wisk Aero are participating in the project, which calls for regional flights connecting Dallas, Austin and San Antonio before expanding to Houston. Local air taxi networks are also planned around each city. Joby has not announced the routes or operating schedule for its initial September flights.
“These partnerships will help us better understand how to safely and efficiently integrate these aircraft into the National Airspace System,” FAA Deputy Administrator Chris Rocheleau said when the projects were announced. “The program will provide valuable operational experience that will inform the standards needed to enable safe Advanced Air Mobility operations.”
Certification Work Continues
The eIPP establishes partnerships among the federal government, state and local agencies and aircraft developers. Joby says the program provides a path for project-specific operations before the company completes FAA type certification. Agreements, airspace coordination and other required approvals must be completed for each project.
Joby reported that it made its strongest quarterly progress to date in the fifth and final stage of the FAA type certification process. The company currently has five aircraft flying and another 12 in production. Joby has not announced a date for receiving its type certificate or beginning regular commercial passenger service outside the eIPP.
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