New York City residents are getting an early look at what short-distance air travel could soon become. This week, Joby Aviation carried out its first direct electric air-taxi demonstration flights across the city, moving its vertical takeoff aircraft between JFK Airport and several Manhattan heliports. Stops included locations in Lower Manhattan as well as landing pads on West 30th Street and East 34th Street.
According to the company, a trip that can take as long as two hours by car could be reduced to less than ten minutes in the air. These flights are part of a federal pilot program focused on electric vertical aircraft, with oversight from the Department of Transportation and support from aviation regulators and the regional port authority.
Joby plans to launch passenger service in markets such as New York, Texas, and Florida, possibly as soon as later this year, though it still needs full regulatory approval and has pushed back timelines before. The aircraft is designed to carry four passengers plus a pilot and uses tilting propellers to take off and land vertically. The company says the aircraft is quieter than traditional helicopters and produces no emissions during operation, which could allow it to operate closer to residential areas.
The demonstration flights are also part of the company’s Electric Skies Tour and highlight its partnerships with several transportation and aviation companies. City officials say the flights show that advanced air mobility is no longer just a futuristic concept but something that is already beginning to take shape.