A new phase has been reached in preparing electric air taxis for commercial use in the U.S. state of Texas. Through test flights conducted in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Joby Aviation has tested how electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft can be integrated into existing transportation and air traffic systems.
No passengers were carried during the trials, which lasted approximately one week in September. The flights began on September 10 at Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport and were conducted on routes covering locations such as DFW Airport, Arlington, and Toyota’s North American headquarters in Plano.
The primary goal of the tests was to provide real flight data for the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) safety regulations regarding commercial air taxi operations. In this way, the conditions under which eVTOL vehicles can operate in regions with heavy air traffic were observed in the field.
TESTED UNDER PROJECT NEXUS
The flights were conducted as part of the Project Nexus initiative led by the Texas Department of Transportation. The program aims to integrate next-generation air transportation with existing transport systems under the FAA’s Integration Pilot Program for eVTOL vehicles.
In addition to Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and the Choctaw Nation are participating in the initiative, which is planned to last three years. Within the scope of the project, the use of electric aircraft will be evaluated not only in large cities but also in rural areas.
The long-term plan aims to establish intercity air travel between Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio, with the goal of adding Houston to this network later. In addition to passenger transport, medical supply delivery and cargo operations are also among the areas of use within the project.
One of the first operational steps in this field was taken in July. In a collaboration between BETA Technologies and United Therapeutics, a genetically modified pig heart was transported via an electric aircraft.
CERTIFICATION REQUIRED FOR COMMERCIAL FLIGHT
The completion of Joby Aviation’s tests does not mean that air taxis will begin carrying passengers immediately. The company must obtain the necessary certification approvals from the FAA to begin commercial flights. Although Joby has announced that it has reached the fifth and final stage of the type certification process, the date for the first commercial flights has not yet been finalized.
In the initial period of the service, it is planned to utilize existing heliports. For this reason, air taxis are not expected to pick up passengers directly from their homes; users will need to travel to designated take-off and landing points.
Another critical issue is compatibility with air traffic. DFW Airport was the third busiest airport in the world in terms of flight traffic in 2025. NASA and Joby teams are conducting simulations to safely integrate electric air taxis into such busy airspaces. While initial findings appear positive, the completion of the certification process for commercial passenger transport is awaited.
News Source: 12punto
