Joby's autonomous Cessna crosses the USA
A retrofitted Cessna Caravan has flown autonomously from California to North Carolina. Throughout the flight, control was handled entirely by Joby's autonomous technology.
The aircraft covered around 5,148 kilometers on its journey across the USA. A safety pilot was in the cockpit, but according to Joby Aviation, they did not have to intervene a single time. The technology also handled taxiing, takeoffs, and landings autonomously.
The route led from Buchanan Field Airport near San Francisco via Phoenix, Fort Worth, and Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina to Dare County Regional Airport in North Carolina. The destination is near Kitty Hawk, where the Wright brothers completed their first successful powered flight in 1903.
Source: Joby Aviation
Additional pilot monitors the flight from the ground
For the project, Joby is using a converted Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, which the company calls the J208. Another pilot monitors it from a ground control station. They remain responsible for the aircraft, can adjust the flight plan, and communicate with air traffic control. As an additional safeguard, a safety pilot sits in the cockpit during such flights.
Monitoring was carried out from control stations in California and at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina. At times, there were up to 3,740 kilometers between the aircraft and the control station.
Along the way, the technology had to cope with varying conditions. These included heavy air traffic at Deer Valley Airport in Phoenix as well as thunderstorms and bad weather. The system was able to adjust its route accordingly during the flight.
Technology comes from Xwing
The basis for the autonomous technology comes from the US company Xwing. Joby acquired its autonomy division in June 2024. Xwing had previously developed the system under the name «Superpilot» and tested it with the Cessna Caravan.
Since the acquisition, Joby has used the technology in exercises with the US Air Force, among other things. According to the company, the system has now completed more than 400 flights and accumulated over 800 automated flight hours.
In parallel, Joby is developing electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOLs) intended for use as air taxis in the future. The J208 technology is initially pursuing other goals. The company mentions cargo transport, medical deliveries, disaster relief, and military logistics, among others.
Return flight to the West Coast planned
The tour does not end with the arrival in North Carolina. The Cessna is scheduled to fly back to the US West Coast via several stopovers.
The current announcement does not state when Joby might be able to use the technology for regular flights without a safety pilot in the cockpit.
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