Joby Aviation has completed its first flight between two US airports, Marina (OAR) and Monterey (MRY), California, operating in tandem with other aircraft in an FAA-controlled airspace for the first time.
Flight time between the two locations was roughly 12 minutes across 10 nautical miles, which also included 5 minutes spent in a hold pattern at MRT for air traffic spacing purposes.
The flight test included a vertical takeoff, transition to wingborne flight, integration into the controlled airspace around MRY, and vertical landing, and marks the first time a piloted electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft has made the journey from one airport to another.
Ground support operations were handled away from home base in Marina.
Didier Papadopoulos, President of Aircraft OEM at Joby, said: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.
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.
The flight tests form a key part of the Company’s certification process, as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires aircraft to demonstrate the ability to operate in shared airspace by flying between multiple airports.
