Riding in a Joby just got a bit more real: FAA’s LAX simulation marks major progress

Jun 26, 2025 — By Greg Bowles, Head of Government Policy

For more than a decade, Joby has been building the future of air travel. At the center of this is a new generation of electric aircraft that would bring quiet, emissions-free flight to communities around the world. Imagine cutting your commute from agonizing gridlock to effortless minutes. Our fleet of electric air taxis have already surpassed 40,000 miles in flight tests, and we’ve been working closely with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to certify our aircraft for passenger service, starting with Los Angeles and New York City as our first launch markets in the U.S. 

The momentum around this new way to fly is undeniable. Just recently, an Executive Order on Drone Dominance highlighted the urgent need to accelerate American leadership in advanced air mobility. And globally, the National Aviation Authority (NAA) Network—involving five nations (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and the U.S.)—has unveiled a historic roadmap to streamline how these advanced aircraft get approved to fly. The world is clearly saying: advanced air mobility is happening, and it’s happening sooner than you might think. 

But how will this new generation of aircraft share the skies with today’s planes and helicopters? That’s a question we’ve been working to answer, coordinating hand-in-hand with aviation expertise inside the FAA and NASA. Bringing air taxis to communities isn’t just about building the aircraft; it’s about meticulous planning, rigorous safety validation, and seamless integration into our complex air traffic system. 

LAX gets a glimpse of tomorrow’s skies

Recently, the FAA completed an advanced human-in-the-loop simulation to test how electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft could safely operate at one of the busiest airports in the world: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Picture this: inside the FAA’s state-of-the-art Airport Facilities Terminal Integration Laboratory (AFTIL) in New Jersey, researchers created a photo-realistic, 3D model of LAX. Then, pilots and air traffic controllers simulated how our new aircraft would take-off, land, and integrate into the air traffic flows of Los Angeles. The facility houses full-scale control tower mockups, 360- and 210-degree tower simulators, and integrated capabilities that connect with other labs—including flight decks, a terminal radar approach control facility (TRACON), and a Joby aircraft simulator. The result is a highly realistic testbed for the operational, procedural, and human factors aspects associated with next-generation airspace integration. Here’s what was assessed:

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  Smooth Traffic Flow: Aircraft deconfliction and traffic flows around LAX
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  Air Traffic Control Coordination: Integration with existing air traffic control communications procedures and separation standards
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  Takeoff and Landing Paths: Design and evaluation of vertiport approach and departure paths
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  Human Factors: Human-system interaction, including pilot and controller workload and communication

This was not only a technical exercise but also a powerful demonstration of progress toward commercial market readiness. FAA officials, eVTOL companies, airlines, and local authorities like Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) all came together to witness firsthand how our aircraft can be safely integrated. The insights from this effort will directly shape how electric air taxis are integrated into airports across the U.S.  

Building on foundational research

This work builds on earlier joint studies led by NASA, the FAA, Joby, and others, including a landmark air traffic control simulation in Dallas airspace. That research established foundational principles for electric vertical takeoff and landing operations in dense, urban environments and directly informed both vehicle requirements and airspace integration strategies now being validated at AFTIL and applied to real-world airports like LAX.

We commend the FAA for their vision and unwavering commitment to safety. With world-class facilities like the AFTIL supporting the mission, the future of quiet, clean aviation is being meticulously built, tested and refined right now. 

And as the U.S. and other countries push forward with advanced air mobility, groundbreaking efforts like this LAX simulation signal a clear message: sustainable air travel is closer than ever to being an everyday reality for everyone.