Joby Aviation operates first eVTOL flight between 2 US licensed airports: video

Joby Aviation, the US-based company developing all-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxis for commercial passenger service, has announced that it has successfully operated one of its demonstrator aircraft (registration N545JX) alongside other aircraft in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) controlled airspace by completing its first flight between two US airports – Marina (OAR) and Monterey (MRY), both located in the state of California.

Joby said the flight time between the two airfields was approximately 12 minutes over ten nautical miles, including five minutes in a holding pattern at Monterey Airport for air traffic spacing. The piloted flight included a vertical take-off, transition to wing-borne horizontal flight, integration into the controlled airspace around Monterey, and vertical landing. The milestone, according to Joby, marks the first time a piloted eVTOL air taxi has flown from one public airport to another. ”The flight also successfully demonstrated the team’s ability to conduct mobile flight tests and deliver full ground support operations away from home base in Marina,” said a company statement.

“The achievement is a major step as part of Joby’s commercial market readiness, highlighting key capabilities across safety, operations, air traffic control, and certification progress,” the statement continued. “It’s a critical measure of the maturity of the Company’s path to commercialization, as the flights also demonstrated the type of real-world service Joby intends to offer to the public.” 

“Successfully flying from Marina to Monterey showcased operations of our aircraft integrated in the broader transportation network and further validated its performance to ensure we’re prepared for service on day one,” said Didier Papadopoulos, President of Aircraft OEM at Joby. “For years, our flight testing has validated our aircraft’s capabilities, and we’ve done this across a wide range of environmental conditions. As part of the natural progression of our flight test program, it was time to venture further, and there was no better place to visit first than our neighbors in Monterey.”According to the company, these critical flight tests are being performed to provide developmental data related to the human factors of operating the aircraft at a controlled airport and in real-world airspace. In particular, Joby’s ability to integrate into controlled airspace was demonstrated when its aircraft successfully sequenced with other aircraft at Monterey Airport, including a holding pattern to accommodate another arriving airliner.

Joby AviationJoby’s aircraft systems, pilot certification, and training were on full display by adhering to the same air traffic control protocols as a major airline. “This is also an important step in the Company’s certification efforts, as the FAA requires aircraft to demonstrate they can operate in shared airspace by flying between multiple airports, added the company.The demonstration was performed to show the company’s commercial market readiness. So far, the organization’s aircraft have completed over 40,000 miles of test flying across its fleet. Joby recently began assembly of its first aircraft intended for Type Inspection Authorization flight testing, one of the last major steps in the FAA certification process. Joby plans to begin flight testing with FAA pilots early in 2026. Following certification, the company plans to launch commercial service domestically, starting in the cities of Los Angeles and New York City.

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