Joby Aviation has received its first CAE flight simulator as it prepares to train the first generation of electric vehicle takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft pilot cadets.
On January 6, 2026, Joby Aviation announced that the first simulator is preparing for installation later this month at the Marina, California pilot training facility.
The CAE flight simulator, the first generation of the 3000 series, is a fixed-based training device and is expected to be qualified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a Level 7 Flight Training Device.
A second unit, a full-motion simulator, is expected to arrive later this year and will be a Level C, Full Flight Simulator that replicates Joby’s aircraft on all axes of motion.
According to Joby, both simulators “provide the ultra-realistic environment required for commercial single-pilot eVTOL operations and are equipped with the same technology used to train pilots for the world’s leading airlines”.
With the two simulators operational Joby expects to be able to train up to 250 pilots a year, “marking an important step in commercial market readiness”.
“These simulators are central to the FAA certification process and are being delivered on time to support pilot training ahead of Joby’s first commercial flights planned for this year,” said Bonny Simi, President of Operations for Joby. “Developing flight simulators that are fully qualified by the FAA takes years of work and access to aircraft data, and it is required for Part 135 operations of eVTOL aircraft in the United States.”
Joby began working with CAE in 2022 to ensure the simulators would be qualified ahead of their launch aircraft’s entry into service.
The two companies said they had been collaborating over several years to test and develop simulator components and software using a “combination of simulated, emulated, and real hardware equipment”.
Both simulators feature a 300-by-130-degree field of view, providing pilots with an unobstructed, fully immersive visual experience driven by CAE’s next-generation CAE Prodigy Image Generator (IG).
CAE leverages gaming technology through Epic Games’ Unreal Engine, providing highly realistic detailed 3D urban visuals for more realistic pilot training in a virtual environment.
“CAE is proud to partner with Joby to bring world-class simulation technology to the emerging eVTOL market. These simulators set a new benchmark for training infrastructure in urban air mobility,” said Alexandre Prévost, President of Civil Aviation at CAE. “By leveraging decades of expertise in high-fidelity simulation, we are helping Joby prepare pilots for safe, efficient operations and supporting the industry’s transition to sustainable air transportation.”
Along with its high-fidelity visuals, the simulator includes audio cues, turbulence, and vibration systems that closely mirror real-world flight conditions, including the unique condition of wind flow around ground-based structures.
“These high-fidelity simulators are designed to be a digital twin of our aircraft, providing us a means of compliance and a robust tool to help prepare our pilots for the unique demands of high-volume operations in urban environments,” Simi added.