The future of urban aviation is becoming a reality. Joby Aviation has successfully conducted a series of test flights in New York, flying its aircraft from John F. Kennedy Airport to downtown Manhattan in under 10 minutes. By comparison, the same journey by car typically takes about an hour due to traffic.
Joby's electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft features unique characteristics: it operates almost silently thanks to its six propellers, reaches speeds of up to 320 km/h with a range of up to 200 km, and is completely environmentally friendly, producing no direct atmospheric emissions.
New York proved to be a challenging test site due to its dense urban development and intense air traffic. The ten-day test program is helping specialists assess how the new aircraft interacts with air traffic controllers and existing helipad infrastructure.
The FAA certification process has taken longer than expected. Commercial launch of the service is now planned for the second half of 2026. Residents of New York, Texas, and Florida will be among the first to use the air taxi service.
ORIENT
