Joby Aviation Inc said on Thursday it had received certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that would allow it to launch its air taxi operations commercially.
Although the certification provides the necessary clearance and is an important step, the company still has regulatory hurdles to clear before its five-seater plane can legally carry passengers.
The FAA’s Part 135 air carrier certificate is among three key regulatory approvals for Joby’s planned launch of the all-electric ridesharing service in 2024.
The certification will allow Toyota-backed Joby to operate its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft as an air taxi service in cities and communities across the United States.
In February, Joby’s prototype piloted aircraft encountered an accident during a flight test at its base in California, but no injuries were reported.
Earlier this month, the FAA said it had changed course on its pilot approval approach for future eVTOL aircraft, but does not expect it to delay certification or operational approvals. .
Joby reported a net loss of $62.3 million in the first quarter of this year and pointed to costs related to aircraft certification and early manufacturing operations.
(Reporting by Aishwarya Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D’Silva)
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