Joby Aviation’s Cessna Caravan Completes First Fully Autonomous Cross-Country Flight
A retrofitted Cessna Caravan operated by Joby Aviation has completed the first fully autonomous cross-continental flight in the United States. Departing from Concord, California, on September 7, the aircraft traveled 3,199 miles to North Carolina without any control inputs from the human safety pilot onboard. The flight, which concluded on September 14, utilized autonomous programming for all phases, including taxiing, takeoff, navigation, and landing. Joby Aviation, which acquired the technology through its 2024 purchase of Xwing, stated that the system has logged over 400 flights and 800 automated hours. The aircraft is now undertaking a return journey to California with scheduled stops in multiple states.
