Joby Aviation has trained the US Air Force in maintaining electric-powered air taxis as part of a contract with the service.
Held at the company’s facilities in Marina, California, the four-week course covered the inspection and sustainment specifics for flight test pilots and other support aircrews.
Sessions were delivered through in-classroom lectures, hands-on activities, and pre-flight checks using Joby’s electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) system concept.
Lessons were based on the Aircraft Maintenance Manual Joby assembled, which aligns with the firm’s plans to achieve an aircraft-type certification for its prototype under the US Federal Aviation Administration.
“We’re pleased to have successfully completed another engagement with the US Air Force, providing the government with a technical overview of electric aircraft maintenance operations while we received feedback from experienced service members to further hone our in-house maintenance training program,” Joby Operations President Bonny Simi stated.
Agility Program
The training was facilitated under the US Air Force’s Agility Prime program, which seeks modern assets to further support warfighters on the battlefield and at their respective bases.
This effort, supervised by the force’s AFWERX research division, tapped Joby in April 2023 to supply up to nine eVTOLs as well as corresponding training services.
Later that year, the company handed over the first aircraft of the deal months earlier than its scheduled delivery date at Edwards AFB in California.
Joby then announced in March this year that the air force ordered two more eVTOLS, both to be stationed at MacDill AFB in Florida.
Joby’s eVTOL Air Taxi
The electric plane it developed for the air force has the capacity for a single pilot and up to four passengers.
It has a top speed of over 200 miles (322 kilometers) per hour, produces lower noise compared to traditional helicopters, and has zero emissions.