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, which showed that the company’s aircraft, among other things, was capable of flying entirely on wings.
Joby is the first to operate these flights in the challenge, hoping to ease urban mobility for cities like Seoul or airports like Jeju province, which are more segregated. The government-backed “K-UAM Dream Team” consortium, which includes SK Telecom, Hanwha and Korea Airport Corporation, was involved in the tests.
Joby’s electric air taxi transports a pilot and four passengers at speeds of up to 320 km/h, makes much less noise than helicopters and has no operational emissions. These successful tests are crucial steps for Joby towards 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 in its own right. It also increased production and unveiled a fourth prototype aircraft as it works toward FAA certification.
This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
