All-electric air taxi developer Joby Aviation has achieved the first piloted air taxi flight between two US public airports. The flight, between Marina (OAR) and Monterey (MRY), California, highlights the plane’s capabilities and ability to operate in a public air traffic controlled environment.

Joby’s flight time from OAR to MRY was approximately 12 minutes over 10 nautical miles, including 5 minutes in a hold pattern at MRY for air traffic spacing.

The piloted flight included vertical takeoff, transition to wingborne flight, integration into the controlled airspace around MRY, and vertical landing.

The milestone marks the first time a piloted electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxi has flown from one US public airport to another.

The flight also demonstrated the team’s ability to conduct mobile flight tests and deliver full ground support operations away from home base in Marina.

Joby recently began final assembly of its first aircraft intended for Type Inspection Authorisation flight testing, one of the last major steps in FAA certification. It plans to begin flight testing with FAA pilots early next year.

Following certification, Joby is planning to launch commercial service domestically starting in Los Angeles and New York City.

“Successfully flying from Marina to Monterey showcased operations of our aircraft integrated in the broader transportation network and further validated its performance to ensure we’re prepared for service on day one,” said Didier Papadopoulos, President of Aircraft OEM at Joby.

“For years, our flight testing has validated our aircraft’s capabilities, and we’ve done this across a wide range of environmental conditions. As part of the natural progression of our flight test programme, it was time to venture further, and there was no better place to visit first than our neighbours in Monterey,” Papadopoulos said.