Joby Aviation (NYSE:JOBY) shares rose 4.6% in premarket trading Wednesday after the electric air taxi maker announced the start of power-on testing for its first FAA-conforming aircraft, built for Type Inspection Authorization (TIA).
This milestone marks a key advancement toward commercial certification, as TIA testing is one of the final stages in the Federal Aviation Administration’s Type Certification process. The company can now begin thousands of hardware and software integration assessments ahead of formal “for credit” flight testing with FAA pilots.
“Beginning this aircraft subsystem testing is the culmination of more than a decade of focused engineering and certification refinements,” said Didier Papadopoulos, President of Aircraft OEM at Joby. “This is the moment where our intended type design, our manufacturing process, and our certification strategy converge into one physical asset.”
The TIA-ready prototype was produced using Joby’s FAA-approved quality management system and aligns fully with the aircraft’s intended type design. Each component meets Designated Engineering Representative (DER) standards and has been verified by Designated Airworthiness Representatives (DARs).
Joby expects to commence pilot-led flight testing later this year, with FAA test pilots taking over in 2026. During the TIA phase, Joby will validate performance data, flight handling characteristics, and operational procedures necessary for commercial deployment.
The findings will ultimately guide the FAA’s final decision on granting Type Certification, a crucial step for Joby’s aircraft to enter commercial air taxi service in the coming years.