A Joby Aviation aircraft crashed at a testing base in California on Thursday, resulting in considerable damage to the unit. The unmanned experimental build was undergoing eVTOL testing, and its accident is now being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

High hopes

Previously going by the moniker of Joby Aero, the Californian outfit was founded in 2019 and has grown to boast over 700 employees. It has been making significant progress with its eVTOL experiments as of late, especially after acquiring the Uber Elevate program in December 2020. It also teamed with the likes of Toyota to develop another air taxi service in the range of up to 150 mi (240 km) and a top speed of 200 mph (320 km/h).

Toyota has plenty of faith in Joby. The Japanese automobile powerhouse has invested $400 million in the program, with the prospects of pioneering air taxis in Japan on the mind of the company.

Joby Aviation
At the beginning of the year, Joby increased its flight test capacity to support its FAA certificaiton goal. Photo: Joby Aviation

Joby Aviation targets a 2024 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification, with the hopes of service entry in the same year. However, there may have been a blip along the way with the crash.

A word from the company

On February 16th, Joby made a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), revealing details on the incident. The company highlighted that its remote experimental plane had an accident at its test base. Thankfully there were no injuries during the event.

Joby Aviation shared the following in the SEC filing:

“Safety is a core value for Joby, which is why we have been expanding our flight envelope with a remote pilot and in an uninhabited area, especially as we operate outside expected operating conditions. Experimental flight test programs are intentionally designed to determine the limits of aircraft performance, and accidents are unfortunately a possibility. We will be supporting the relevant authorities in investigating the accident thoroughly.”

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Joby Aviation eVTOL
The road towards eVTOL certification is a long one. Photo: Joby Aviation

Following the accident, the NTSB has revealed that it is investigating the crash. The incident has been confirmed to have taken place in southern Monterey County, California village of Jolon.

Notable opportunities

eVTOLs are set to revolutionize short-haul networks across numerous metropolises by the time the 2030s arrive. There are significant investments in the field, with major airlines, airports, governments, and manufacturers all firmly behind the scene. With sustainability and efficiency high on the agenda in the market, all-electric eVTOLs are a natural focal point for aviation and transport stakeholders.

Just this week, Joby and All Nippon Airways (ANA) announced a partnership that would see all-electric five-seat aircraft provide air taxi service in Osaka. Following this announcement, Joby will be keen to address any safety concerns and work with the NTSB regarding the accident ahead of aircraft introduction this decade.

What are your thoughts about this accident involving a Joby Aviation eVTOL in California? What do you make of the overall prospects of the NTSB’s investigation? Let us know what you think of the incident and the potential outcomes of the inquiry in the comment section.