Joby completes second stage of FAA type certification

Joby Aviation has completed the second stage of its FAA type certification process.

The second stage of the type certification process involves the OEM identifying ways it will demonstrate it has met the means of compliance that were defined during the first stage — aka the certification basis. 

Joby believes it is the first eVTOL OEM to reach this milestone, having also been the first to complete stage one and have its certification basis published in the US Federal Register. Joby has a target of launching commercial passenger service by 2025.  

Didier Papadopoulos, head of Aircraft OEM at Joby, said: “Certification is an integral part of everything that an aerospace company does and with the achievement of this critical milestone, we’re now able to confidently focus our efforts on closing the remaining certification plans and completing the testing required to certify our aircraft.”

Joby has also already made progress in the third stage of the process — certification plans. It has submitted four area-specific certification plans (ASCPs) to the FAA as well as its first equipment-level qualification test plan. Progress also continues in the fourth stage, testing and analysis, and in stage five, known as show and verify. 

“We’re grateful for the FAA’s dedication to the safe introduction of eVTOL technology and their commitment to supporting continued US leadership in this sector,” Papadopoulos added.

According to Joby, is typical for a small portion of the means of compliance to remain open to allow for further collaboration on minor design changes and improvements that may occur later in certification. With 94% of the means of compliance now accepted by the FAA, Joby considers the second stage essentially complete.