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 and are 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.
“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,” said Bonny Simi, President of Operations at Joby. 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 operations of eVTOL aircraft. Joby began working with CAE in 2022 to build a scalable, qualified pilot training infrastructure aligned with its commercial launch timeline.
The first simulator—part of CAE’s 3000 Series fixed-base training devices—will begin installation this month at Joby’s expanded manufacturing and pilot training facility in Marina, California. The second unit, a full-motion simulator, is expected to arrive later this year. Together, the two simulators will support training for up to 250 pilots annually. The fixed-base simulator is expected to be qualified by the FAA as a Level 7 Flight Training Device, while the second unit will be certified as a Level C Full Flight Simulator, capable of simulating the aircraft across all axes of motion.
Both simulators feature a 300-by-130-degree field of view, delivering a fully immersive experience powered by CAE’s Prodigy Image Generator, which leverages Epic Games’ Unreal Engine to produce highly detailed 3D urban environments. AI-driven modeling creates lifelike cityscapes, while integrated audio cues, turbulence, and vibration systems replicate real-world flight conditions, including complex wind flows around ground structures.
“These high-fidelity simulators are designed to be a digital twin of our aircraft,” Simi added, “providing both a means of regulatory compliance and a powerful tool to prepare pilots for the demands of high-volume urban air mobility operations.”
Over several years, Joby and CAE have rigorously developed and tested simulator hardware and software across multiple facilities in California and Costa Rica, ensuring full alignment with FAA flight simulator qualification standards and paving the way for scalable eVTOL pilot training.
