Joby Aviation has initiated flight testing of its first FAA-conforming aircraft, marking the start of the final phase in the Federal Aviation Administration type certification process. Registered as N547JX, the aircraft adheres to designs approved by FAA Designated Engineering Representatives and signed off by FAA Designated Airworthiness Representatives.
This milestone launches Stage 5, Type Inspection Authorization (TIA), following completion of the first three stages and over 40 percent progress in Stage 4. Initial flights, conducted by Joby test pilots at the Marina, California facility, prepare the aircraft for formal evaluation by FAA pilots later in 2026. The tests validate performance and safety per FAA-approved certification plans, building on prior simulator assessments of human factors like pilot workload and flight deck ergonomics involving four FAA test pilots.
Joby remains the first eVTOL manufacturer to finish Stages 1 through 3. Stage 1 defined the Certification Basis, published in the Federal Register. Stage 2 secured FAA acceptance of 94 percent of Means of Compliance. Stage 3 gained approval for all certification plans covering structural, mechanical, electrical systems, cybersecurity, human factors, and noise. Recent achievements include static load testing of an FAA-conforming tail structure and the first TIA simulator testing.
The company builds a fleet for comprehensive TIA trials, including targeted flight tests in 2026. This advances Joby toward commercial passenger operations under the U.S. eVTOL Integration Pilot Program across states like Arizona and New York.