Aviation Joby Relies on Flight Simulators from CAE for eVTOL Pilot Training

With the advent of air taxis, it is necessary to train pilots accordingly. Joby Aviation is preparing for the first wave of pilot training for air taxis with CAE flight simulators. The first of two CAE simulators has been completed and is currently being prepared for installation at Joby's pilot training facility in California.

The eVTOL developer Joby Aviation will soon be able to deploy the first of two flight simulators developed in collaboration with CAE. The simulators, which are to be qualified for the highest classifications of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for flight simulations, provide the ultra-realistic environment required for commercial eVTOL operations with a pilot and are equipped with the same simulation technology used for the training of pilots for various airlines.

"These simulators are critical to the FAA certification process and will be delivered on time to support pilot training ahead of Joby's first commercial flights, planned for this year," says Bonny Simi, President of Operations at Joby. "The development of flight simulators fully certified by the FAA requires years of work and access to aircraft data and is mandatory for the operation of eVTOL aircraft under Part 135 in the United States."

Simulators support training of up to 250 pilots per year

The first generation of the Series 3000 simulator will be installed this month at Joby's recently expanded manufacturing and pilot training center in Marina, California. The second unit, a full-motion simulator, is expected to arrive later this year. Once the facility is operational, Joby will be able to expand its eVTOL pilot training program, with the two simulators supporting the training of up to 250 pilots per year.

In 2022, Joby and CAE began their collaboration. The goal is to ensure that the simulators are qualified before the aircraft become operational. The first simulator is expected to be certified by the FAA as a Level 7 flight training device; the second will be a Level C full-flight simulator, simulating Joby aircraft in all motion axes.

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Gaming technology for detailed 3D city views

Both simulators feature a 300 x 130-degree field of view, providing pilots with an unobstructed, fully immersive visual experience enabled by the CAE Prodigy Image Generator (IG). This leverages the gaming technology of Epic Games' Unreal Engine to deliver highly realistic, detailed 3D cityscapes for more realistic pilot training in a virtual environment. CAE's immersive environment uses artificial intelligence to create detailed 3D buildings and lifelike urban settings, offering a seamless training backdrop for air taxi operations.

In addition to its high-resolution graphics, the simulator features audio signals, turbulence, and vibration systems that accurately reflect real flight conditions, including the specific conditions of wind flow around ground-based structures. "These highly precise simulators are designed as digital twins of our aircraft, providing us with a means of regulatory compliance as well as a robust tool to prepare our pilots for the unique demands of high-volume operations in urban environments," says Simi.

Over several years, Joby has collaborated with CAE to develop and test simulator components and software, utilising a combination of simulated, emulated, and real hardware in Marina, Santa Cruz, and San Carlos, as well as in the company's software development facility in Costa Rica. The system replicates all aspects of flight physics and human factors and fully meets the FAA's qualification standards for flight simulators. (se)