Joby Aviation, a developer of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, said on Friday it plans to participate in the White House’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), which allows mature aircraft designs to operate in select markets before receiving full Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification.
The pilot program, established under a recent Executive Order, seeks to advance the deployment of eVTOLs for passenger transport, cargo delivery, and emergency response by partnering private companies with state, local, and tribal governments.
Greg Bowles, Joby Aviation’s Chief Policy Officer, said the company is prepared to demonstrate its technology and operational readiness. “We’ve spent more than 15 years building the aircraft technology and operational capabilities that are defining advanced aerial mobility, and we’re ready to bring our services to communities. We look forward to demonstrating our aircraft’s maturity and delivering early operations in cities and states nationwide,” he said.
Joby said its aircraft have completed over 40,000 miles of flight testing, including nearly 600 flights in 2025 alone. The company recently conducted its first flight between two public airports, integrating with commercial air traffic, and has tested its aircraft under diverse conditions across five countries, including extreme heat operations in Dubai.
The company is advancing through the FAA Type Certification process, currently in the fourth of five stages, and plans to begin flight testing with FAA pilots next year. Supported by Toyota, Joby is also expanding its production capacity in Marina, California, and Dayton, Ohio, aiming to double output to 24 aircraft per year.
Joby’s participation in the eIPP aligns with its ongoing collaboration with state and local governments, including projects in Texas, Florida, Ohio, New York, and California. Applications for the program are open, and selected projects will be announced within 180 days.