MARINA — Joby Aviation said it is supporting the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Advanced Air Mobility National Strategy, as well as its intent to immediately engage on key recommendations. The strategy provides a clear policy roadmap for Advanced Air Mobility deployment and integration across workforce, infrastructure, safety and data sharing.

In 2022, Congress passed the “Advanced Air Mobility and Coordination Act” to ensure federal agencies work in coordination on investments necessary for the maturation of the Advanced Air Mobility ecosystem in the United States.

Joby Aviation is developing electric air taxis for commercial passenger service. The company is headquartered in Santa Cruz and has been doing business at the Marina Municipal Airport since August 2018, where it has designed and is producing its electric vertical take off and landing aircraft that will carry a pilot and four passengers at speeds up to 200 mph and offer high-speed mobility with a fraction of the noise produced by helicopters and zero operating emissions.

The Department of Transportation, under Secretary Sean Duffy, has brought together at least 19 federal agencies and departments to develop and publish the Advanced Air Mobility National Strategy which fosters innovation, ensures safety and promotes cohesion across the federal government to shape the future of air transportation in the United States.

It also comes as the Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Transportation look to execute the Electric Vertical Take Off and Landing (eVTOL) Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) starting in 2026. eIPP supports eVTOL use cases across the country ahead of FAA Type Certification, such as proving routes for operations. The eIPP’s near-term operations and the Strategy’s policy recommendations empower regulators, communities and industry alike to move forward in lockstep.

JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby said that the Advanced Air Mobility National Strategy is tangible proof that the U.S. government recognizes the value of the Advanced Air Mobility industry, and comes as Joby is preparing for early air taxi operations in U.S. cities through the eIPP program, created by an Executive Order this summer.

The eVTOL Integration Pilot Program was included in a presidential executive order, dated June 6, to the Department of Transportation and FAA.

The Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Integration Pilot Program is designed to allow mature aircraft designs to demonstrate eVTOL use cases, such as passenger transportation, cargo delivery and emergency response, ahead of achieving certification. The program requires participating partners to have a high level of maturity in aircraft capabilities and a degree of readiness that facilitates operations from the time that community projects are chosen.

Joby’s advanced progress towards certification and operational maturity uniquely positions the company to immediately engage on the strategy’s core recommendations including leveraging existing or repurposed infrastructure, data sharing with respective government agencies as Joby has led the industry’s regulatory path, becoming the first eVTOL company to finalize its certification blueprint (G-1) with the FAA, and is now entering the final stages of validating all necessary design, flight and manufacturing data, building the workforce through careers in aviation to unlock opportunities for economic mobility with Joby being actively engaged in building a skilled AAM workforce here in the United States, and the commitment to developing an aviation autonomy roadmap aligning with work already underway at Joby with its Superpilot autonomous flight technology.

In addition, Joby has participated in two simulations with the FAA and NASA to validate integration of eVTOL operations using existing air traffic control procedures into the National Airspace System around Los Angeles International Airport, Dallas Love Field and Dallas/Fort Worth airports.

Joby employs more than 2,000 people globally, including through Joby’s apprenticeship program. Joby’s manufacturing workforce continues to grow at the company’s scaled production site in Dayton, Ohio and its pilot production line in Marina. Through its aviation academy, the company is also building a talent pipeline of pilots and aircraft mechanics. The strategy’s focus on developing workforce pipelines, including leveraging military experience, supports Joby’s integrated manufacturing and operating strategy, as well as its development of dual-use technologies for U.S. defense.

Joby began full operation of its expanded Marina site in July with a 220,000-square-foot manufacturing facility at the Marina Municipal Airport, enabling it to boost production up to 24 aircraft per year, and bringing its total occupancy at the municipal airport to 435,500 square feet. The site also provides key capabilities, including Joby’s initial FAA production certification, conforming ground and flight testing components, pilot training simulators and aircraft maintenance.