Joby Enters FAA Stage 4 Type Certification — Last Major Hurdle Before US Launch

Joby Aviation has formally entered FAA Stage 4 type certification work as of April 2026. This is the second-to-last technical milestone before US Type Certification — and combined with the JFK to Manhattan piloted demonstration flights, Joby is now the first US eVTOL company in genuine final-stage US certification.

What FAA Stage 4 Means

The FAA's type certification process for new aircraft proceeds through five stages:

• Stage 1: Conceptual familiarization (years ago, complete)
• Stage 2: Requirements and certification basis (complete)
• Stage 3: Compliance planning and analysis (complete)
• Stage 4: Implementation, testing, and verification — this is where Joby is now
• Stage 5: Final certification action and Type Certificate issuance

Stage 4 is the heaviest, most evidence-driven phase. It includes all engineering testing, flight testing under FAA observation (TIA — Type Inspection Authorization), and the formal FAA review of every certification compliance item.

Why Stage 4 Is the Real Test

Stage 4 is where most aircraft programs slow down or stall. The reason: every single design assumption made in Stages 1–3 now has to be backed by physical evidence. Test campaign failures, design changes, and re-test cycles are normal and unpredictable.

Joby's bet — and it's a bet that has cost the company billions — has been to invest in flight testing far ahead of formal FAA Stage 4 entry. The result: the company has over 1,000 test flights and 50,000+ flight miles of evidence already in hand. Stage 4 for Joby is largely a documentation, evidence submission, and FAA review exercise rather than a fresh test campaign.

The Stage 5 Gate

After Stage 4, only Stage 5 remains: FAA final administrative review and Type Certificate issuance. Stage 5 is administrative rather than technical — once Stage 4 is complete and accepted, Stage 5 is days to weeks rather than months.

Joby has not published a Type Certification date, and shouldn't (FAA doesn't operate on public schedules). But the trajectory has been:

• 2024–2025: Stage 3 work, parallel flight testing
• Early 2026: TIA flight testing under FAA observation
• April 2026: Formal Stage 4 entry
• 2026–2027: Stage 4 evidence submission and review
• 2027 (likely): Stage 5 / Type Certificate issuance
• Late 2026 / 2027: First US revenue passenger service

How This Compares to Dubai Launch

Joby's Dubai operations can proceed under UAE GCAA approval, which uses a different (and faster) certification path. That's why Dubai commercial service can begin before US Type Certification finalizes.

The US Stage 4 work is what unlocks domestic NYC, LA, Texas, and Florida operations. Dubai is real and earlier; US service follows the FAA process.

What This Means for Other US Programs

Joby's Stage 4 entry sets a benchmark that Archer, BETA, Wisk, and Eve are now measured against. Industry expectation is Archer enters Stage 4 within months, with BETA following on a different timeline (its ALIA fixed-wing path is regulatorily simpler).

The race for first US eVTOL Type Certification is now genuinely on.

How to Stay Ahead

Pre-reserve your seat for first US revenue flights. Track the eVTOL Certification Tracker for live FAA stage status across all programs.