Joby has announced that it has applied for UK CAA certification of its five seat eVTOL. While it is yet to complete the process of FAA certification it is seeking a concurrent type certification from the UK regulator.
Joby say that the new application does not alter its planned ‘USA first” strategy for service entry but adda that the UK’s geographic demography is ideal for its product offering. Adding that it will seek to “leverage the existing bilateral aviation safety agreement between the two regulators” to expedite the certification process. Given the that UK’s CAA has so far continued to map EASAs stance on regulation and it’s recently published eVTOL/AMM road map together with the FAA’s recent change of direction in its eVTOL regulation development this may prove more challenging than it appears on first examination. Commenting on the application, JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO, Joby Aviation, said: “By working hand-in-hand on certification, the U.K. and the U.S. are setting the stage for these two countries to be amongst the earliest adopters of this important new technology. We strongly believe that a collaborative approach to regulation helps to foster greater safety and accelerate the introduction of new technologies that benefit the public and the environment.”
