Joby Secures eVTOL Pilot Program in 10 States, Faces Archer Lawsuit
Joby Aviation won multiple slots in the White House eVTOL Pilot Program, securing operations in ten U.S. states within 90 days of OTA contracts and advancing FAA type certification. Rival Archer sued Joby over alleged China supply reliance even as Joby shares jumped on program inclusion.
1. White House eVTOL Pilot Program Selection
Joby Aviation was named a partner in multiple successful applications under the White House eVTOL Integration Pilot Program. The company will operate in Arizona, Florida, Idaho, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas and Utah, testing passenger, cargo and medical missions across urban and regional routes.
2. Certification and Operational Timeline
Agreements will proceed to an Other Transaction Authority stage, with flights expected within 90 days of contract finalization. Joby’s first FAA-conforming aircraft is slated for Type Inspection Authorization flight soon, and the company plans to scale production to four aircraft per month by 2027 to meet demand.
3. Archer Lawsuit and Market Reaction
Rival Archer Aviation filed a lawsuit accusing Joby of downplaying reliance on Chinese suppliers, intensifying competition in the eVTOL sector. Despite legal pressure, Joby shares rallied on news of federal program inclusion, underscoring investor confidence in its commercial prospects.