Aviation Week reports, “In many ways, Archer Aviation and Joby Aviation are highly similar startups. The two front-runners in the nascent U.S. air taxi market are both developing piloted, four-passenger electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing vehicles with the goal of launching commercial service next year.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
Tag: eVTOL
Archer Performs Battery Pack Drop Test for Midnight Air Taxi
Flying Magazine reports, “Air taxi manufacturer Archer Aviation has reached what it says is a crucial milestone in its test campaign—one that could prove valuable as it pursues type certification for its flagship Midnight aircraft. The company on Friday said it successfully completed a series of drop tests on Midnight’s battery packs, an evaluation it will need to complete again during for-credit testing with the FAA.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)
Early eVTOL Aircraft Deliveries Increase EHang’s Revenues
Aviation International News reports, “Early deliveries of its autonomous two-seat EH216-S eVTOL aircraft boosted EHang’s revenues in the fourth quarter of 2023. Having secured type certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) on October 13, the Guangzhou-based company is still awaiting clearance for the production certificate needed to advance to higher-volume series production but managed to deliver 23 aircraft in the last three months of last year.”
Full Story (Aviation International News)
Joby Aviation Achieves Key Air Taxi Certification Milestone
Flying Magazine reports “It’s full steam ahead for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi manufacturer Joby Aviation.” The company recently reported its fourth-quarter and full-year 2023 earnings and revealed “that it recorded revenue for the first time” while “announcing plans to ramp up testing, certification, and manufacturing activities.” Joby is “the first eVTOL manufacturer to complete the third of five stages in FAA type certification, and the firm is now turning to stage four: for-credit flight testing with the regulator.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)
Joby Completes Third FAA Type Certification in Five-Stage Process
FlightGlobal reports “US advanced air mobility company Joby says it’s completed the third of the Federal Aviation Administration’s five-stage type certification process as it reports a 2023 full-year loss of $513 million.”
Full Story (FlightGlobal – Subscription Publication)
Joby and Skyports Partner on Dubai eVTOL Operations
FlightGlobal reports that “Joby Aviation and Skyports Infrastructure have joined forces to launch air taxi passenger services in Dubai as early as 2025 through exclusive deals with the emirate’s transport authority.”
Full Story (FlightGlobal)
Beta’s Alia Completes First Deployment at Eglin AFB
Aviation Week reports that Beta Technologies “has concluded the first deployment of its Alia electric aircraft to a US military base, completing three months of flight testing with the US Air Force at Duke Field on Eglin AFB, Florida.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
Air New Zealand Considers Passenger Flights with Beta’s Alia Electric Aircraft
Aviation Week reports that while Air New Zealand “plans to use its first electric aircraft for a cargo-only commercial demonstration, it will consider broadening its role and adding more aircraft as the program progresses.” The carrier “announced an order for a Beta Technologies Alia electric aircraft on Dec. 6.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
Joby CEO Announces 84% Completion of Stage 3 FAA Certification Work for EVTOL Aircraft
Aviation Today reports that Joby Aviation CEO JoeBen Bevirt says the company’s eVTOL aircraft is 84% on its way to completing FAA Stage 3 certification requirements. The company “checked off several milestones in the past three months that bring it ever closer to launching commercial passenger flights in 2025.” Joby is “ramping up production at its pilot manufacturing facility in Merina, Calif., with one aircraft in final assembly and two more in production.” It also has “chosen Dayton, Ohio, as the site for the first scaled manufacturing facility, after receiving promises for $325 million in state and local incentives and benefits, Bevirt said.”
Full Story (Aviation Today)
Joby Aviation Founder Says Electric Air Taxis Will be in Service by 2025
The AP reports that in an interview, Joby Aviation founder JoeBen Bevirt said that its electric air taxis will be in service within two years. Bevirt “insists that his Santa Cruz, California-based company…can meet an ambitious target of entering commercial air taxi service in 2025.” However, “Like other eVTOL startups, Joby is losing money – more than $400 million in 2021-2022. Analysts don’t know when, if ever, it will be profitable.” Bevirt said, “Our goal is absolutely still to achieve commercial service in 2025, and given the progress we’re making on certification and the progress we’re making on the manufacturing front, we’re excited to just be day after day knocking down the milestones.”
Full Story (Associated Press)