Joby Aviation, a developer of electric air taxis for commercial passenger service, has accepted the first of two advanced flight simulators developed in partnership with CAE, a global leader in pilot training and simulation. The simulators are designed to meet the highest levels of Federal Aviation Administration qualification and will play a central role in supporting commercial single-pilot eVTOL operations in the United States.
The simulators provide an ultra-realistic training environment equipped with the same high-fidelity simulation technologies used to train pilots at the world’s leading airlines. They form a critical part of Joby’s FAA certification and operational readiness pathway, supporting pilot training ahead of the company’s planned first commercial flights.
Bonny Simi, President of Operations at Joby, stated that these 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. She noted that developing FAA-qualified flight simulators is a multi-year process requiring extensive aircraft data and regulatory engagement, and is a prerequisite for Part 135 eVTOL operations. Joby began working with CAE in 2022 to build scalable, qualified pilot training infrastructure.
The first simulator—a CAE 3000 Series fixed-base training device—will begin installation this month at Joby’s facility in Marina, California. The second unit, a full-motion simulator, is expected later this year. Together, they will support training for up to 250 pilots annually. The fixed-base simulator is expected to be FAA-qualified as a Level 7 Flight Training Device, while the second unit will be certified as a Level C Full Flight Simulator. Both simulators feature a 300-by-130-degree field of view with CAE’s Prodigy Image Generator using Unreal Engine for detailed 3D urban environments, plus AI-driven cityscapes, audio cues, turbulence, and vibration systems. Simi added that these high-fidelity simulators are designed as a digital twin of Joby’s aircraft, providing regulatory compliance and a powerful tool to prepare pilots for high-volume urban air mobility operations.
