Joby Aviation achieves FAA Part 141 approval for its flight academy
US-based electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft manufacturer, Joby Aviation (Joby), has announced two significant milestones in its journey toward launching commercial operations.
The company has received a Part 141 certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its Joby Aviation Academy, alongside FAA acceptance of its voluntary Safety Management System (SMS) for air operations under Part 5.
The Part 141 certificate allows Joby’s flight academy to provide streamlined pilot training programmes, ensuring the company can efficiently prepare a qualified pipeline of pilots ahead of its planned air taxi operations.
Aspiring aviators can enrol in a range of courses at the academy, including private pilot, instrument rating, commercial pilot, and certified flight instructor programmes.
Bonny Simi, President of Operations at Joby, expressed optimism about the academy’s future, stating, “We’re pleased to be ticking two more items off our operations checklist as we continue to lead the industry towards commercialisation of electric air taxis.”
She added, “As a former airline pilot, I’m particularly looking forward to seeing our Flight Academy grow in both courses and students in the coming years as we offer highly competitive prices and strong training curricula that position graduates for success in the industry.”
Strengthening safety standards
In addition to training advancements, Joby has bolstered its safety culture with FAA acceptance of its voluntary SMS for air operations under Part 135.
This proactive approach, achieved well ahead of the mandated deadline for air taxi operators, involves robust policies and encourages team members to report safety concerns.
“We are also building a strong safety foundation for our planned operations with the FAA acceptance of our Safety Management System governing air operations under our Part 135 operation, Joby Elevate,” added Simi.
The SMS forms part of Joby’s broader Enterprise SMS initiative, which integrates safety across manufacturing, operations, maintenance, and training, ensuring continuous improvement and streamlined information exchange.
Both the Part 141 certification and Part 5 SMS acceptance are integral to Joby’s launch plans.
The company presented details of its roadmap in June 2024 during a presentation titled “Pre-Flight Checklist: An Introduction to Joby Air Taxi Operations.”
The Joby electric air taxi, designed to carry a pilot and four passengers, can reach speeds of up to 200 mph, offering high-speed travel with significantly reduced noise compared to helicopters and zero operating emissions.
Joby has been making steady progress toward commercialisation.
In August, the company announced that it had completed more than a third of the fourth stage in its five-step type certification process.
Moreover, in October, it secured an additional $500 million investment from its long-term partner, Toyota, to accelerate the certification and commercial production of its eVTOLs.
Additionally, at the inaugural Advanced Air Mobility Symposium, organised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in Montreal, Canada, in September, Joby presented a letter of intent (LoI) to the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to initiate the process for its air operator certification in the country.