MARINA – Preparing for the first wave of air taxi pilot training with new simulators, Joby Aviation is readying for the installation of the first of two next-generation simulators at its facility in Marina.
The simulators, developed in partnership with CAE, a global aviation technology and training company, are scheduled to be qualified amongst the highest Federal Aviation Administration classifications. They are expected to provide the ultra-realistic environment required for commercial single-pilot eVTOL operations and are equipped with the same simulation technology used to train pilots for the world’s leading airlines.
Joby’s President of Operations Bonny Simi said the simulators are central to the FAA certification process and are being delivered on time to support pilot training ahead of Joby’s first commercial flights planned for this year.
CAE has been working with Joby to develop pilot training devices specifically for the company’s electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft since 2022 to ensure the simulators would be qualified ahead of their launch aircraft’s entry into service. The Canadian manufacturer of simulation technologies has decades of experience specializing in simulation and pilot training systems for civil aviation, defense and other high-stakes environments.
Developing flight simulators that are fully qualified by the FAA takes years of work and access to aircraft data, and it is required for Part 135 operations of eVTOL aircraft in the United States, said Simi.
The first generation of the 3000 series simulator – a fixed-based training device – will start installation this month at Joby’s recently-expanded manufacturing and pilot training center at the Marina Municipal Airport. The second unit, a full-motion simulator, is expected to arrive later this year. Once operational, the installation will enable Joby to expand its eVTOL pilot training pipeline, with the two simulators ultimately supporting the training of up to 250 pilots annually at the Marina facility.
The first simulator is expected to be qualified by the FAA as a Level 7 Flight Training Device; the second will be a Level C, Full Flight Simulator that simulates Joby’s aircraft on all axes of motion.
Both simulators feature a 300-by-130-degree field of view, providing pilots with an unobstructed, fully immersive visual experience driven by CAE’s next-generation CAE Prodigy Image Generator. It leverages gaming technology through Epic Games’ Unreal Engine, providing realistic detailed 3D urban visuals for more realistic pilot training in a virtual environment. CAE’s immersive environment leverages AI to create detailed 3D buildings and lifelike urban environments, delivering a seamless training backdrop for air taxi operations.
Along with its high-fidelity visuals, the simulator includes audio cues, turbulence and vibration systems that closely mirror real-world flight conditions, including the unique condition of wind flow around ground-based structures.
Since the beginning of Joby’s collaboration with CAE in 2022, it has developed and rigorously tested simulator components and software using a combination of simulated, emulated, and real hardware equipment across facilities in Marina, Santa Cruz, and San Carlos, along with the company’s software development facility in Costa Rica. The system reproduces all aspects of flight physics and human factors, fully aligning with FAA flight simulator qualification standards.
Joby Aviation is developing electric air taxis for commercial passenger service. The company is headquartered in Santa Cruz and has been doing business at the Marina Municipal Airport since August 2018, where it has designed and is producing its electric vertical take off and landing aircraft that will carry a pilot and four passengers at speeds up to 200 mph and offer high-speed mobility with a fraction of the noise produced by helicopters and zero operating emissions.
Joby began full operation of its expanded Marina site in July with a 220,000-square-foot manufacturing facility at the Marina Municipal Airport, enabling it to boost production up to 24 aircraft per year, and bringing its total occupancy at the municipal airport to 435,500 square feet. The site also provides key capabilities, including Joby’s initial FAA production certification, conforming ground and flight testing components, pilot training simulators and aircraft maintenance.
