Joby Aviation, a US company developing an aircraft taxi service, has received,a Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) – taking the company a step closer to beginning commercial operations.

A Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate is one of three FAA approvals required for Joby to operate its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft taxi service.

Joby has received the certification ahead of its anticipated sechedule.

Steps to obtain the certificate included the submission of over 850 pages of manuals for approval and required Joby’s initial line-up of pilots to demonstrate mastery of aircraft under FAA observation.

The California-based company will now continue developing the all-electric commercial passenger aircraft which it is aiming to launch in 2024.

Bonny Simi, head of air operations and people at Joby, said: “The procedures we’ve prepared lay a foundation for our future eVTOL operations.

“Over the coming months, we will use our Part 135 certificate to exercise the operations and customer technology platforms that will underpin our multi-modal ridesharing service, while also refining our procedures to ensure seamless journeys for our customers."

Joby is partnering with CAE, a global leader in aviation training, to train commercially rated pilots to fly its eVTOL aircraft.

The aircraft can transport a pilot and up to four passengers up to 150 miles on a single charge at speeds of up to 200 mph.

Trained pilots will fly the aircraft on a reliable work schedule, completing each shift in their hometown or city.

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