FAA-Conforming Flights Set To Commence Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-conforming flights are set to commence for Joby Aviation as the company has powered up the first articles to perform FAA Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) flights. “TIA is widely understood to mark the final stage of the type certification process”, Joby said in a letter to shareholders recently. At this point the airframer suggests 75 percent of the fourth and penultimate phase has been completed thus far.
Previous to powering-on the FAA conforming articles Joby had made significant number of flights with non-conforming testbed aircraft. It is estimated the company carried out more than 600 flights this year. The power-on landmark for the conforming aircraft carries Joby into new phase of development. “This first testing step is the moment where our intended type design, our manufacturing processes and our certification strategy all converge into one physical asset,” said Joby.
The first conforming article has been in assembly since mid-year. In terms of money to continue funding of the eVTOL development, the company start-up is said to have just under a billion dollars to play with. “The [TIA] aircraft is nearly identical to the aircraft that we’ve been flying before.” A total of five aircraft will participate in different elements of the upcoming campaign, all of which are currently under construction. With the design and intended construction processes for the certified craft essentially “locked in”.
There is also a sidebar of development opportunity in way of a variant potentially for defense contracts. While the regular development is for an eVTOL, the company is concurrently working on a gas-turbine powered aircraft in partnership with L3 Harris. They suggested that flight-testing is set to begin 'imminently' of this aircraft. Despite this, there is no definitive timeline for this craft and they are seeking additional financing. The aircraft would be set to be operated by the “Superpilot” autonomous flight technology. After Joby acquired Xwing they inherited the autonomous technology and that would be incorporated into this particular variant although, a piloted version could be fielded as an option. For more information: Joby Aviation 333 Encinal Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, U.S.A. www.jobyaviation.com ***
