Joby Aviation, Inc., a company developing electric air taxis for commercial passenger service, has been selected as a partner in multiple winning applications under the White House‑backed Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) Integration Pilot Program (eIPP). The selection gives Joby the opportunity to begin early operations this year in Arizona, Florida, Idaho, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, and Utah—marking a major milestone for the U.S. air taxi industry and potentially accelerating Joby’s path to commercial service.
The eIPP program, established by Presidential Executive Order, paves the way for Joby to bring its technology directly to U.S. communities ahead of FAA type certification. It is expected to accelerate regulatory coordination by bringing the FAA and DOT together with local authorities to streamline approvals for airspace integration and infrastructure development, advancing the safe integration of this new technology into the national airspace.
“This is a defining moment for American innovation,” said JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby Aviation. “Instead of just reading about the future of flight, communities across America are going to be able to see it in the skies above their own cities this year. Quiet, electric air taxis flying real routes are a powerful demonstration of American leadership in action, and proof that we’re building the next golden age of aviation right here in the U.S.”
State and Regional Demonstrations
Joby will participate in the following selected programs:
- Florida: A statewide effort with three phases focused on cargo delivery, passenger transportation, automation, and medical response, supported by significant public and private investment.
- Port Authority of New York and New Jersey: Collaboration on multiple operational concepts across New England, including air taxi passenger operations at the Manhattan heliport.
- Texas Department of Transportation: Operations connecting Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and eventually Houston, with air taxi networks expanding from each city.
- North Carolina Department of Transportation: Piloted medical and regional operations across the state, alongside developing autonomous flight operations extending into Virginia.
- Utah Department of Transportation: A four‑state initiative spanning the Pacific Northwest, the Rocky Mountains, and the Plains of Oklahoma, testing a wide range of next‑generation aircraft and operational concepts.
In addition to its air taxi aircraft, Joby was also selected for applications that include its Superpilot™ autonomous flight technology platform, designed to enable highly automated operations and expand the range of use cases partner states can explore.
Path to Commercial Service
The selected applications will now progress into an Other Transaction Authority (OTA) stage, where agreements and operational details will be finalized. Flights are expected to commence within 90 days of OTA contracts being finalized.
Joby’s first FAA‑conforming aircraft for Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) is set to fly shortly, a major step toward type certification. The company regularly flies piloted, full‑transition flights—taking off vertically, transitioning to wingborne cruise, and returning to vertical landing—demonstrating the operational maturity required for the eIPP program.
With plans to scale production to four aircraft per month in 2027, supported by expanded facilities in Marina, California, and Dayton, Ohio, Joby is positioning itself to meet unprecedented global demand for its technology.
