Joby Aviation, a California-based company developing all-electric aircraft for commercial passenger service, announced it has acquired Avionyx, an established aerospace software engineering firm, to support its aircraft type certification program with the Federal Aviation Administration.
Avionyx, headquartered in San Jose, Costa Rica, has provided software development and verification solutions to the aerospace industry for more than 30 years. Through the acquisition, Joby will scale its certification resources by integrating Avionyx’s experienced engineering team. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Software verification plays a central role in commercial aerospace certification, requiring engineers to review, analyze, and test aircraft software in accordance with FAA regulations and standards. Avionyx brings experience performing software verification services to both FAA and European Union Aviation Safety Agency standards.
Joby first engaged Avionyx in 2021 to assist with software testing and verification for its electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, which incorporates numerous onboard systems subject to rigorous FAA flight software review, analysis, and testing requirements.
The acquisition builds on Joby’s recent progress in software verification, including the completion of its first Compliance Review with FAA representatives at the end of last year. The review evaluated the company’s development and verification processes for aerospace-grade software and airborne electronic hardware.
At its Marina, California facility, Joby operates a Vehicle Software Integration Lab that leverages flight simulation and hardware emulation capabilities to conduct thousands of pre-programmed tests validating aircraft software performance. A similar lab will be established in San Jose, Costa Rica, to accelerate verification efforts.
Joby’s piloted five-seat eVTOL aircraft is designed to carry four passengers at speeds of up to 200 mph with a maximum range of 150 miles on a single charge. After more than a decade of development and over a thousand flight tests, the company is targeting the launch of its aerial ridesharing service in 2024.
Avionyx, an AS-9100D-certified supplier, will continue supporting the broader aviation community alongside its work on Joby’s certification program.
KEY QUOTES
“Acquiring Avionyx puts us in excellent position to meet the regulatory requirements necessary for us to bring the Joby aircraft to market. Having worked alongside Avionyx for the last year, I’m continuously impressed by the wealth of experience they bring to our software verification activities.”
Tom Ferrell, Development Assurance Lead at Joby Aviation
“For more than 30 years, Avionyx has been privileged to work closely with a number of aerospace companies to bring innovative aircraft to market with increasingly vital software systems. Joby’s aircraft is one of the most transformative projects that I have seen during my career, and our team is excited to play a part in making it a reality.”
Larry Allgood, CEO of Avionyx
