US electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) company Joby Aviation recently initiated real-world flight tests in New York City. Its electric air taxi model conducted routine route test flights in one of the most complex urban airspaces in the US for the first time, marking a crucial step toward commercial operations. During the initial demonstration flights, Joby's electric aircraft took off from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and flew to heliports in Lower and Midtown Manhattan, with each trip taking less than 10 minutes. These test flights are part of the US Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing Aircraft Integration Pilot Program, aimed at accelerating airworthiness certification and large-scale deployment of such aircraft. Joby is currently in the final stages of FAA airworthiness certification, with plans to launch passenger operations in the second half of 2026, initially in regions including New York, Texas, and Florida.