SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Joby Aviation showcased its electric air taxi technology Thursday with a demo flight over San Francisco, offering a glimpse of what the company says could soon change how people commute around the Bay Area.
The Northern California-based company is headquartered in Marina and also has offices in Santa Cruz and San Carlos.
Joby Aviation CEO and founder JoeBen Bevirt said the company employs more than 2,500 people, many of them in Northern California, and is ramping up manufacturing in both Northern California and Ohio.
Video from the demonstration showed the aircraft flying near iconic Bay Area landmarks, including the Golden Gate Bridge, as it traveled from Oakland.
The company describes the aircraft as an air taxi designed to move passengers quickly and quietly.
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“It’s here, and it’s happening right now. That’s what’s so remarkable and so exciting,” JoeBen Bevirt said.
Bevirt said he has envisioned this type of aircraft since childhood and has dreamed of such a moment since founding the company 16 years ago.
“Flying right here in San Francisco past this iconic landmark of the Golden Gate Bridge, so today is a landmark achievement for our company and a dream come true for me,” Bevirt said.
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The Federal Aviation Administration announced that Joby Aviation was selected for its new Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Integration Pilot Program.
Under the program, Joby is expected to begin operations in as few as three months in several states, including Arizona, Florida, Idaho, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, and Utah.
The company plans to support activities such as cargo delivery in Florida and medical operations in North Carolina.
The FAA selection clears the way for future commercial air taxi flights, which the company says could significantly reduce commute times.
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Didier Papadopoulos, President of Aircraft OEM at Joby Aviation, said trips that take about an hour by road could be reduced to 10 minutes or less by air.
“It’s an aircraft that is operated by one pilot and has room for up to four passengers. It looks the same and operates the same, so you’re really going to get a real-life experience of what this looks like when hopefully one day in the near future you’re on it,” Papadopoulos said.
It remains unclear when air taxis could begin flying in San Francisco.
Joby says it aims for the cost of a ride to be about the same as an Uber Black, to make the service accessible.
The company is also exploring autonomous operations without pilots on board in the future.
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