Joby Aviation vs Archer Aviation: Who Wins the 2026 FAA Race?
Updated September 2, 2026 · 4 min read
Last updated: September 1, 2026
Quick answer: As of August 2026, Joby Aviation vs Archer Aviation is not a close race — Joby leads decisively. Joby has entered Stage 5 (Type Inspection Authorization), the final phase of FAA certification, with conforming aircraft already flying and a type certificate targeted for late 2026. Archer completed Phase 3 of the FAA’s four-phase process in May 2026 — the first eVTOL company to do so — but sits roughly a year behind Joby, with certification more realistically landing around 2028.
Key takeaways
- Joby is in Stage 5 (Type Inspection Authorization) — the last of five FAA certification stages, with conforming aircraft flying since March 2026.
- Archer completed Phase 3 of FAA certification in May 2026 — a genuine milestone, but one stage behind Joby’s position.
- Joby targets first paying passengers in 2026; Archer’s realistic launch window is closer to 2027-2028.
- The two companies have also diverged strategically — Joby weighted toward air-taxi services and international launches (including Dubai), Archer increasingly toward defense partnerships (notably with Boeing/Anduril-adjacent programs).
Understanding the FAA Certification Race
Both companies must clear the FAA’s type certification process before selling commercial rides — a multi-stage gauntlet of design review, compliance testing and conforming-aircraft flight demonstration. In Joby Aviation vs Archer Aviation specifically:
| Joby Aviation | Archer Aviation | |
|---|---|---|
| Current FAA stage (Aug 2026) | Stage 5 — Type Inspection Authorization (final) | Completed Phase 3 of 4 |
| Conforming aircraft flying | Yes, since March 2026 — 5 aircraft flying, 12 more in production | Not yet at TIA stage |
| Means of Compliance acceptance | Advanced | 100% FAA acceptance achieved — a first for any eVTOL maker |
| Type certificate target | Late 2026 | ~2028 or later, by most independent estimates |
| First passenger target | 2026 (via eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, Texas) | Later, following certification |
Archer’s Phase 3 milestone is genuinely significant — being first to full Means of Compliance acceptance reflects real engineering rigor, not a footnote. But certification is sequential: Joby simply started and progressed faster through the same gauntlet, and the roughly year-long gap has held steady rather than closing through 2026.
Beyond Certification: How the Companies Are Diverging
The Joby Aviation vs Archer Aviation comparison has stopped being a pure certification horse race and become a strategic divergence:
- Joby: air-taxi services, internationally. Joby has pursued direct air-taxi operations, piloted flight demonstrations, and international market entry — notably a push toward launching passenger service in Dubai alongside its US rollout, positioning itself as an operator as much as a manufacturer.
- Archer: defense and manufacturing partnerships. Archer has leaned increasingly into defense-adjacent and industrial partnerships (including ties reported with Boeing on manufacturing and program work), diversifying revenue beyond pure passenger air-taxi economics while its FAA timeline plays out.
This split matters for anyone tracking the space: “who wins” now depends on which market you are asking about, not just who gets a type certificate first. Both remain squarely part of the broader urban air mobility buildout and the certification-reality lens our eVTOL guide applies across the whole industry — China’s EHang, for comparison, is already CAAC-certified and running ticketed operations, ahead of both US companies on regulatory status if not on market scale.
Why Certification Takes So Long
The FAA process exists because eVTOLs are a genuinely new aircraft category — not a drone, not a helicopter, not a fixed-wing plane — requiring new powered-lift rules rather than a shortcut through existing categories. Each of the five stages (conformity, means of compliance, test planning, compliance testing, and type inspection authorization) demands exhaustive documentation and flight-test evidence before advancing. Neither Joby nor Archer can buy their way past a stage; the sequence is fixed by regulation, which is exactly why the gap between them, once opened, has been so durable.
What to Watch Next
- Joby’s type certificate issuance — the single biggest near-term milestone, targeted for late 2026.
- First paying passengers under the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program in Texas — the real-world proof point beyond paperwork.
- Archer’s Phase 4 progress — the pace of its remaining certification stage will show whether the year-long gap is closing or holding steady.
- International launches — Dubai for Joby specifically, a signal of how fast global markets move relative to the more cautious FAA timeline.
The pilot-and-operations rulebook both companies fly under is explained in our FAA regulations guide.
Joby Aviation vs Archer Aviation FAQ
Who is winning, Joby Aviation or Archer Aviation?
On FAA certification specifically, Joby leads clearly – it entered the final Stage 5 (Type Inspection Authorization) in March 2026, roughly a year ahead of Archer, which completed Phase 3 of 4 in May 2026.
When will Joby or Archer start flying passengers?
Joby targets 2026 for first paying passengers, via the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program in Texas, pending final type certificate issuance expected late 2026. Archer’s realistic commercial launch is more likely 2027-2028.
What is FAA Type Inspection Authorization (Stage 5)?
The final of five FAA certification stages, where conforming aircraft fly compliance tests under direct FAA oversight. Joby entered this stage in March 2026 with aircraft already airborne – the last step before a type certificate can be issued.
Is Archer Aviation falling behind Joby?
On the certification timeline, yes – roughly a year behind as of mid-2026. But Archer achieved a genuine first (100% FAA Means of Compliance acceptance) and has diversified into defense and manufacturing partnerships, so it is not simply losing a single race.
Are Joby and Archer competing in the same market?
Less than before. Joby has focused on direct air-taxi operations and international launches including Dubai, while Archer has leaned into defense-adjacent and industrial partnerships, making the comparison as much strategic as it is a certification race.
Is any eVTOL company ahead of both on certification?
China’s EHang is already CAAC-certified and running ticketed commercial operations, putting it ahead of both US companies on regulatory status, though at smaller scale. See our full eVTOL guide for the global certification picture.
Related Guides on ZeroCarbonDrive
- eVTOL air taxis explained — the full certification-reality picture, all players
- Urban air mobility — the industry these companies are building
- Drone delivery — the cargo cousins already flying at scale
Sources and Further Reading
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