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JoeBen Bevirt of Joby Aviation leads first test flights for federal electric air taxi program in Texas

JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby Aviation, is leading a week-long flight campaign in North Texas to test electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Starting September 10, the aircraft will fly real-world routes between Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport and major urban hubs, including Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and the Toyota Motor North America headquarters in Plano. These flights are conducted under the White House’s new pilot program to test the feasibility of electric, hybrid-electric, and autonomous aircraft. The program aims to make the aircraft's type certification process faster by collecting real-world operational data to help the Federal Aviation Administration build safety rules for commercial service at scale. The North Texas campaign is part of Project Nexus, a winning proposal by the Texas Department of Transportation. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford stated that the data from these flights will help ensure the new aircraft integrate safely into the airspace. The administration announced that these tests are a critical step in reshaping how people and products move for the better.

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