Air taxi company Joby Aviation recently conducted its first test flights using an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, connecting two locations in New York City on 24/4, and will continue testing this week.

The aircraft is designed similarly to a giant drone, runs entirely on batteries, and has a capacity of 5 people (including the pilot). Its operational mechanism allows it to take off vertically like a helicopter, then rotates its propellers to propel the fuselage forward. According to the manufacturer, a key advantage of this flying vehicle is its quieter operation compared to traditional helicopters and zero direct emissions.

Electric taxi flying from downtown Manhattan to JFK airport. Source: Ticker.

The project's goal is to connect existing helipads in Lower and Midtown Manhattan to JFK international airport. This route typically takes one to two hours by car due to traffic congestion, but with an air taxi, the travel time is reduced to nearly 10 minutes.

Currently, Joby owns Blade, a traditional helicopter ride-sharing company, and maintains partnerships with Delta Air Lines and Uber.

Although Joby has conducted numerous test flights since 2023, this 10-day flight campaign is part of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) eVTOL Integrated Pilot Program.

Kevin O'Toole, Chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which manages the region's airports, stated: "These flights advance our efforts to determine how next-generation aviation technology can serve the people of New York and New Jersey."

Joby Aviation's electric flying taxi conducts a test flight to JFK airport, 24/4. Photo: *Joby Aviation*.

In March, the U.S. Department of Transportation selected 8 pilot programs to test this type of transportation. In addition to urban air taxi services, areas such as interregional passenger transport, cargo delivery, emergency food relief, autonomous flight, and offshore energy transport are also being tested. Joby is currently collaborating with the Port Authority of New York, as well as transportation agencies in Texas, Utah, Florida, and North Carolina.

In 2024, the FAA issued new regulations bringing air taxis closer to reality. Since then, companies like Joby have worked towards certification.

"These pilot projects will create one of the world's largest real-world testing environments for next-generation aircraft; the data gathered will be used by the FAA to develop new regulations, enabling the safe operation of this future technology at scale," a representative from the Department of Transportation said in March.

Currently, the project is in its final stages of validation. If the FAA grants approval as scheduled, visitors to New York will soon be able to experience commercial air taxi services.

By Mai Phuong (According to CNN)