Joby Aviation acquires Avionyx to accelerate aerospace software certification – TechCrunch

Joby Aviation, a California-based company developing electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (e VTOL) for commercial passenger service, announced the acquisition of Avionyx on the Mobility stage on Wednesday.

The companies did not disclose the terms of the deal, but Joby said that Avionyx will become a wholly-owned subsidiary with resources to expand its team. It also likely means that this was a combination equity and cash deal.

Joby's piloted five-seat e VTOL aircraft can carry four passengers at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour with a maximum range of 150 miles on a single charge.

Joby is able to do what many companies are trying to do: become vertically integrated by taking on Avionyx, a company that has been working with Joby for over 30 years.

Being vertically integrated is the fastest way to get to market because we don't have to worry about the supply chain issues. The head of air operations and people at Joby asked what the regulations were for certifying the pilots.

Joby is focusing on vertical integration in the area of aircraft development and certification. The company's first Systems Review and Compliance Review by the FAA was approved in March, but the Avionyx buy will help support Joby's aircraft type certification program. In the past, Avionyx has worked with the FAA and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.

According to Joby, software verification is critical to meeting FAA regulations and standards because it allows engineers to review, analyze and test the software deployed across the aircraft. It helps to avoid crashes like the one currently being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board based on a Joby aircraft crash in February.

Joby can be more flexible in managing its platform by not relying on third parties.

Gary Gysin, CEO of Wisk Aero, an e VTOL company that is focused on air operations, disagreed with Simi on the benefits of vertical integration, saying that not owning all of the components will give Wisk a faster time to market. Joby's aircraft will likely hit the skies before Wisk, because Wisk isn't aiming for piloted rides. Joby is targeting aerial service.

Joby uses flight and hardware simulations to rapidly conduct thousands of pre-programmed tests to verify the performance of its different aircraft, and Avionyx's experience in the sector will help them advance operations at their Vehicle Software Integration Lab in Marina, California. The company said it will set up a similar facility in San Jose, Costa Rica, where Avionyx hails from.

Avionyx, an AS-9100D-certified supplier, will continue its work in support of the broader aviation community.

Joby Aviation partners with Japanese airline to launch air taxi service