Photo: Joby
Folks in Southern California are closer than ever to emission-free, affordable air mobility. With the help of Clay Lacy Aviation, eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) manufacturer Joby is setting up the region's first dedicated charger for electric aircraft.
Southern California will soon house what might be one of the first commercial air taxi networks to launch in the US. Back in 2022, Joby announced that it had teamed up with Delta to offer air taxi flights for the airliner's customers. Those traveling on the Los Angeles-New York route would have access to Joby air taxis transporting them to and from city airports.
In support of that pioneering air travel project, the eVTOL developer is now working with a different partner, Clay Lacy Aviation, to implement the infrastructure that's required for future air taxi operations. Clay Lacy owns and operates an FBO (fixed-based operator) terminal at John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County. Starting this year, it will embark on a massive $100 million redevelopment project. This is where Joby's electric air taxi charger comes in – it will be installed at the terminal as part of the large-scale transformation.
In addition to its flagship eVTOL, Joby had also developed a charging interface known as GEACS (Global Electric Aviation Charging System). As its name shows, this technology isn't limited to the Joby aircraft or even to eVTOLs. It was designed to support medium-range electric aircraft as well, not just short-range air taxis. The idea was to support and accelerate electric-powered operations across the industry, which is why the specifications for the interface have been available since the Fall of 2023.
The first air taxi charger in Southern California is yet another milestone for Joby, which also successfully completed the first-ever air taxi flight in New York City last year. This year, the first air taxis to be stationed at an Air Force base are also expected to start operating, and they are Joby aircraft. The Edwards Air Force base, which is USAF's second-largest, will go down in history as the first American military base to have electric air taxis in its fleet.
Another air taxi-related first for the US Air Force is linked to a different eVTOL manufacturer. Beta Technologies has successfully installed the first air taxi charger at an Air Force base. This time, it was the Eglin Air Force in Florida. Beta's Charge Cube is also agnostic and promises to charge any eVTOL in under an hour. Beta was also the first one among eVTOL manufacturers to obtain an airworthiness certificate from the Army.
The Joby air taxi that will soon start operating in Southern California is a five-seat aircraft (four passengers plus the pilot) that can fly at 200 mph (321 kph) and cover short-distance routes of up to 100 miles (161 km).
In support of that pioneering air travel project, the eVTOL developer is now working with a different partner, Clay Lacy Aviation, to implement the infrastructure that's required for future air taxi operations. Clay Lacy owns and operates an FBO (fixed-based operator) terminal at John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County. Starting this year, it will embark on a massive $100 million redevelopment project. This is where Joby's electric air taxi charger comes in – it will be installed at the terminal as part of the large-scale transformation.
In addition to its flagship eVTOL, Joby had also developed a charging interface known as GEACS (Global Electric Aviation Charging System). As its name shows, this technology isn't limited to the Joby aircraft or even to eVTOLs. It was designed to support medium-range electric aircraft as well, not just short-range air taxis. The idea was to support and accelerate electric-powered operations across the industry, which is why the specifications for the interface have been available since the Fall of 2023.
The first air taxi charger in Southern California is yet another milestone for Joby, which also successfully completed the first-ever air taxi flight in New York City last year. This year, the first air taxis to be stationed at an Air Force base are also expected to start operating, and they are Joby aircraft. The Edwards Air Force base, which is USAF's second-largest, will go down in history as the first American military base to have electric air taxis in its fleet.
Another air taxi-related first for the US Air Force is linked to a different eVTOL manufacturer. Beta Technologies has successfully installed the first air taxi charger at an Air Force base. This time, it was the Eglin Air Force in Florida. Beta's Charge Cube is also agnostic and promises to charge any eVTOL in under an hour. Beta was also the first one among eVTOL manufacturers to obtain an airworthiness certificate from the Army.
The Joby air taxi that will soon start operating in Southern California is a five-seat aircraft (four passengers plus the pilot) that can fly at 200 mph (321 kph) and cover short-distance routes of up to 100 miles (161 km).
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