Joby completes first piloted eVTOL air taxi flight between U.S. public airports

Joby Aviation has achieved a new milestone in the development of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft by completing the first piloted flight between two public airports in the United States.

The company’s prototype air taxi took off from Marina Municipal Airport (OAR) and landed at Monterey Regional Airport (MRY), California, covering 10 nautical miles in about 12 minutes.

The mission included vertical takeoff, transition to wingborne flight, sequencing into FAA-controlled airspace, a five-minute hold for traffic spacing, and a vertical landing at the destination.

According to Joby, the test marked a crucial step in proving that its aircraft can safely integrate into existing air traffic control systems, operating under the same protocols as commercial airlines.

“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.

The milestone also demonstrated Joby’s ability to conduct mobile operations away from its home base, including full ground support. The company highlighted that these tests generate valuable data on human factors, pilot workload, and airport procedures, all of which are required by the FAA for certification.

Joby has logged more than 40,000 miles of flight testing with its eVTOL prototypes and recently began final assembly of its first aircraft designed for FAA Type Inspection Authorization.

Test flights with FAA pilots are expected to begin in 2026, with commercial operations planned initially in Los Angeles and New York City.

The announcement follows Joby’s planned acquisition of Blade Air Mobility’s passenger business, which will expand its future service footprint.

About the Author

Ricardo Meier

Creator of the website that started in 1996 as a magazine. He also writes on Brazilian websites AUTOO, MOTOO and MetrôCPTM.

Articles by the author »