Joby Aviation has completed its first flight tests in South Korea as part of the K-UAM Grand Challenge, a government-led urban air mobility initiative. The US-based company is the first electric air taxi company to complete flights as part of the programme.

Over the course of a week, Joby completed a range of missions demonstrating various flight profiles, including fully wing-borne flight. Joby also demonstrated its ability to collaborate with potential Korean partners for future commercialisation in the country.

“Completing our first flights in Korea marks a significant milestone towards launching operations in the Korean market, where our service has incredible potential to save people time and improve connectivity in densely populated cities like Seoul and more remote areas like Jeju Province, where natural barriers complicate ground transportation,” says JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO.

The Joby electric air taxi is designed to accommodate a pilot and four passengers at speeds of up to 200 mph, offering high-speed mobility with reduced noise and zero emissions. Joby participated in the K-UAM Grand Challenge as part of the K-UAM Dream Team alongside SK Telecom, Hanwha Systems, TMAP and Korea Airports Corporation. The flights took place at the Goheung Aviation Test Center in South Jeolla Province and concluded with an event on 14 December specifically showcasing Joby’s quiet acoustic footprint.

Joby is continuing to progress toward certification of its air taxi with the FAA and recently rolled out its fourth prototype aircraft in California. South Korea is the third country to grant Joby airworthiness certification, following similar approvals in the United States and Japan.