Joby Aviation (JOBY, Financial) K-UAM Grand Challenge, a program to promote the commercialization of air taxis, completed its first electric air taxi flights in Korea. Such tests took place at the Goheung Aviation Test Center in South Jeolla Province, proving the aircraft of the company to be capable of doing, among other things, fully wing-borne flight.
Joby is the first to carry out these flights in the challenge, hoping to relieve urban mobility for cities like Seoul or airports such as Jeju Province that are more segregated. The ‘K-UAM Dream Team’ consortium, which includes SK Telecom, Hanwha, and Korea Airport Corporation, backed by the government, was involved in the tests.
Joby’s electric air taxi carries a pilot and four passengers at speeds up to 200 mph, has much less noise than helicopters and offers zero operating emissions. These successful tests are crucial steps for Joby on its path toward airworthiness certifications in multiple countries. This has already obtained such approvals in Japan and the US.
Joby looks ahead to expanding the commercialization of its electric air taxi services in other global markets, with Korea as a strategic market of its own. It also increased production, unveiling a fourth prototype aircraft as it works toward FAA certification.
This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
