Santa Clara-based developer aims to improve urban mobility with electric air taxis in Melbourne and Sydney by 2025
by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb
Joby, a Santa Clara-based developer of electric drone taxis recently announced that it has applied for type certification in Australia for its eVTOL aircraft, designed to improve urban mobility in congested areas.
Australia has long been considered a potential hotbed for AAM development, leading to growing interest in accessing the valuable potential markets of major cities such as Melbourne and Sydney. Melbourne was among the first cities to be selected for the Uber Elevate air taxi program, which was acquired in 2020 from Joba.
Joby type certification: Japan, Great Britain, Australia and others
By applying to the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority for FAA type certification verification, the company uses a bilateral agreement that provides reciprocity for aircraft approvals. Joby has also applied for certification in Japan and the United Kingdom under similar reciprocal agreements with their civil aviation authorities.
The company intends to launch air taxi services in 2025 and is currently in the third stage of the FAA’s five-phase approval process. The aircraft is designed to carry a pilot and up to four passengers at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour.
“There is strong political support in Australia for the development of advanced air mobility from our safety regulator, CASA, our federal and state governments,” said Clem Newton-Brown, CEO of Skyportz, an Australian skyport developer. “What we have been missing since the departure of Uber Elevate is a serious commitment from any of the leading electric air taxi operators to enter our market through local certification. This announcement from industry leader Joby is very exciting for the emerging local ecosystem.
In February 2024, Joby product manager and former Uber Elevate team leader Eric Allison spoke about the future of drone taxis on the Drone Radio Show, describing a not-too-distant future where air taxis are a major part of urban transportation. (listen here).
More information about Joby is available at their website.
Miriam McNabb is the editor-in-chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a marketplace for professional drone services, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and drone regulatory landscape. Miriam has written over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and respected industry figure. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in new technology sales and marketing.
For drone consulting or writing, email Miriam.
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