Ubers in the Air

Have you ever thought about the future? More specifically, have you ever thought of flying cars or air taxis? We have all dreamed about the day when flying cars can be a part of daily life. You may think that these machines are a good fifty years away. But, they are actually not. Startup companies are using advancements in science and technology to create propeller systems powered by homemade batteries. But before we dive into the future, we need to look back. 

In the early 1900s, the Wright Brothers made small propeller planes. At the time, this was huge! A human could fly. But in the early 1960s, a new plane took off. The largest plane yet. It was the Boeing 747. This aircraft was capable of flying long-range while transporting passengers in style. Fast-forward to now, and the planes that are most popular now are the Airbus A220, 320, 330, and 350. For Boeing, it’s the 737, 757, 787, and 777. Seattle's hometown airline is Alaska Air. You have probably heard about it. It mainly flies the 737 family of jets. 

Now, let’s talk about the future. One of the startup companies that is making aircraft for the future is Joby Aviation. Joby is based in Santa Cruz, California. Joby wants to make an Uber business, but with air taxis instead of cars. Joby has designed an aircraft and is now in the testing phase. Joby designs most of the aircraft’s components, including the batteries, which are designed by a team of former Tesla engineers.

Some key facts to know about Joby Aviation.

• Joby has received a decent amount of investments. In 2020, Toyota invested $394 million. 

• The plane that they are designing can hold up to five people, including the pilot. 

• Based on past testing, the plane can exceed 200 miles per hour. 

• Because the aircraft will be used in an urban environment, they are working on noise reduction to make the planes quiet. 

Joby just got a five-year partnership with Delta Airlines. Delta is investing $60 million into air taxis. It is hoping to use them to get people to and from the airport. 

The future is important. How will humans sustain life on Earth? We got information from Oliver Walker Jones, a Head of Marketing, Communications & Brand of Joby Aviation. 

Q: Who came up with the idea for Joby and why?

A: [CEO] JoeBen Bevirt said, “When I was a child, I dreamt of an airplane that could take off vertically and be quiet and sustainable.”

Q: How do you want to expand Joby in the coming years?

A: In 2020, the company acquired Uber Elevate, Uber’s air taxi division, along with a $75 million investment. Just recently, Joby inked an exclusive five-year partnership with Delta Airlines. The carrier is investing $60 million with plans to use its air taxis to transport passengers to and from airports.

Q: Have you got FAA approval? 

A: Joby has received Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration, which gives them permission to begin on-demand commercial air taxi operations.

Q: How do you make sure there are no errors in the materials? 

A: Joby uses an advanced robot to scan its materials to make sure there are no defects.