Joby Aviation, Inc. announced it has accepted the first of two flight simulators developed in partnership with CAE. The simulators, scheduled to be qualified amongst the highest Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) classifications for flight simulation, provide the ultra-realistic environment required for commercial single-pilot eVTOL operations and are equipped with the same simulation technology used to train pilots for the world's leading airlines. Joby began working with CAE in 2022 to ensure the simulators would be qualified ahead of their launch aircraft's entry into service.
The first simulator is expected to be qualified by the FAA as a Level 7 Flight Training Device; the second will be a Level C, Full Flight Simulator that simulates Joby's aircraft on all axes of motion. Both simulators feature a 300-by-130-degree field of view, providing pilots with an unobstructed, fully immersive visual experience driven by CAE's next-generation CAE Prodigy Image Generator (IG), which leverages gaming technology through Epic Games' Unreal Engine, providing highly realistic detailed 3D urban visuals for more realistic pilot training in a virtual environment. CAE's immersive environment leverages AI to create detailed 3D buildings and lifelike urban environments, delivering a seamless training backdrop for air taxi operations.
Along with its high-fidelity visuals, the simulator includes audio cues, turbulence, and vibration systems that closely mirror real-world flight conditions, including the unique condition of wind flow around ground-based structures. Over several years, Joby, in collaboration with CAE, has developed and rigorously tested simulator components and software using a combination of simulated, emulated, and real hardware equipment across facilities in Marina, Santa Cruz, and San Carlos, California, along with the Company's software development facility in Costa Rica. The system reproduces all aspects of flight physics and human factors, fully aligning with FAA flight simulator qualification standards.
