Joby Flies Its First FAA-Conforming Aircraft as Electric Aviation's Certification Race Enters the Final Stretch
Joby Aviation began flight-testing its first FAA-conforming eVTOL in March 2026, entering the final certification phase as Archer acquires Lilium's patents and six companies prepare for live airspace trials this summer.
Overview
Joby Aviation has begun flight-testing its first Federal Aviation Administration-conforming electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, entering the fourth and final stage of the FAA type certification process that stands between the company and commercial air taxi service. The aircraft, registered as N547JX, was built to FAA Designated Engineering Representative-approved designs and signed off by FAA Designated Airworthiness Representatives, according to Joby’s announcement. Initial testing by Joby’s own pilots at its Marina, California facility will be followed by FAA pilots conducting Type Inspection Authorization flight testing later in 2026, the final hurdle before the agency grants a type certificate authorizing commercial operations. The milestone comes as the broader electric aviation sector accelerates: Archer Aviation has acquired approximately 300 patents from bankrupt German rival Lilium, and the FAA’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program has selected eight projects across 26 states for live airspace trials beginning this summer, as The Machine Herald previously reported.
What We Know
Joby’s certification journey has spanned more than five years and four distinct stages defined by the FAA for powered-lift aircraft. The company completed Stage 3, which involves demonstrating that the aircraft meets all applicable airworthiness requirements through analysis and ground testing, and has now moved into Stage 4, the flight-test campaign that validates the aircraft’s performance, handling qualities, and systems in the air. The FAA-conforming aircraft represents the final production-intent design, meaning any changes at this point would require re-certification of the affected components.
Joby is simultaneously scaling its manufacturing capacity. The company has been producing aircraft at its Marina, California facility since mid-2024 and began propeller blade production at a second site in Ohio in October 2024, with current output at two aircraft per month. Plans announced in December 2025 target doubling production to four aircraft per month by 2027, backed by Toyota Motor Corporation’s $250 million investment tranche and an ongoing manufacturing alliance, according to a Joby press release. CEO JoeBen Bevirt has characterized the moment as “the next golden age of aviation.”
Joby has disclosed more than $1 billion in potential aircraft and service sales agreements and plans to begin eIPP operations before the end of 2026 in Arizona, Florida, Idaho, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, and Utah.
Archer Aviation, Joby’s closest domestic competitor, is on a parallel certification track. Its Midnight aircraft has entered the final stage of FAA type certification after the agency accepted its Means of Compliance documentation in January 2026. Archer strengthened its intellectual property position by acquiring roughly 300 advanced air mobility patents from Lilium for approximately $21 million after the German startup shut down in February 2026 following a failure to secure financing, as reported by Flying Magazine. The patents cover ducted fan technology central to Lilium’s jet design, giving Archer access to propulsion approaches distinct from its current tilt-rotor architecture.
Beyond Joby and Archer, the FAA’s eIPP includes Beta Technologies’ Alia in both VTOL and conventional takeoff configurations, Wisk’s Generation 6 autonomous air taxi, Electra’s EL9 short-takeoff aircraft, and Elroy Air’s Chaparral cargo drone. The program will put these aircraft into Class B and C airspace with active air traffic control before they receive full type certification, a regulatory approach designed to generate real-world operational data while certification proceeds.
What We Don’t Know
The precise timeline for FAA type certification remains uncertain. While Joby has consistently targeted 2025 and then 2026 for certification, the duration of TIA flight testing depends on the number of test points the FAA requires and whether any issues arise during the campaign. No eVTOL aircraft has ever received an FAA type certificate under the powered-lift category, meaning there is no precedent for how long the final stage will take.
Joby has not disclosed the specific range, payload, and noise characteristics achieved by the FAA-conforming aircraft, as opposed to earlier prototype configurations. Whether the production-intent design meets the performance targets the company has previously cited, including a 150-mile range and speeds exceeding 200 miles per hour, will be established during TIA testing.
The business model for early commercial operations also remains unresolved. Ticket pricing, route selection, vertiport infrastructure requirements, and the insurance framework for eVTOL passenger service are all still under development. Joby’s $1 billion-plus in potential sales agreements does not guarantee revenue, as many depend on certification milestones being met.
Looking Ahead
The second half of 2026 will determine whether electric aviation crosses the threshold from development to commercial reality. Joby’s TIA flight testing, Archer’s parallel certification push, and the eIPP’s live airspace demonstrations will all generate data that regulators, investors, and the flying public will use to assess whether air taxis are ready for service. Lilium’s collapse serves as a reminder that the capital requirements of certification and manufacturing can overwhelm even well-funded startups, making the financial endurance of the surviving companies as important as their engineering achievements.