Electric air taxis take off from JFK- Manhattan within 10 minutes

Joby Aviation’s electric air taxi flights take off from John F Kennedy International Airport to Manhattan heliports in less than 10 minutes, according to Gulf News and CNN reports.

The big takeaway is not just speed, but integration. Over the next week, Joby's electric air taxi will showcase a quieter, cleaner, faster way to move through New York, in partnership with the regulators including the New York government and the US Federal Aviation Administration.

The electric aircraft, which look like a giant battery-powered drone, can carry five people, including one pilot. It takes off vertically like a helicopter, then some of the propellers tilt to propel the aircraft forward. The company says they are quieter than helicopters and produce zero operating emissions because they are electric.

The goal is to connect existing heliports in Lower and Midtown Manhattan to JFK International Airport in less than 10 minutes instead of the one-to two-hour drive.

Joby’s electric air taxi flies over New York City during a 10-day eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, including flights to JFK.

“These flights advance our work to determine how next-generation aviation technology can serve the people of New York and New Jersey,” said Kevin O’Toole, chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs the area’s airports, in a release. 
Joby owns helicopter ride-share company Blade, which flies similar routes with traditional helicopters, and the company also maintains partnerships with Delta Air Lines and Uber.

The company is in its final stages of FAA certification. The FAA has a five-stage process for certification.