Joby and Helo Holdings To Install Greater NYC’s First Electric Air Taxi Charger at Helo Kearny Heliport
A definitive agreement between Joby and Helo will provide Joby with an operational base for its electric air taxi in the New York metro area.
(Kearny, New Jersey) Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle developer Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE: JOBY) announced today that has signed a definitive agreement with Helo Holdings, Inc. (HHI) to install what will be the first electric air taxi charger in the greater New York City region at HHI’s heliport in Kearny, New Jersey, Helo Kearny Heliport (65NJ).
Photo courtesy of FLYJETS: Joby‘s S4 eVTOL at Manhattan’s downtown heliport post-demonstration flight.
65NJ is a short distance from New York City’s heliports – about two minutes by helicopter, to be specific, according to today’s press release from Joby. As part of the agreement between Joby and HHI, HHI will upgrade its electrical infrastructure to support the installation of Joby’s Global Electric Aviation Charging System (GEACS), which is designed to support the safe and efficient operation of all electric aircraft under development today, including Joby’s quiet, emissions-free air taxi.
“We’re pleased to expand our partnership with HHI as we prepare to install our GEACS charging system at Kearny Heliport," said JoeBen Bevirt, Joby’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer. "Kearny is expected to become the first heliport with an air taxi charger in the tri-state area and enable the launch of our quiet, emissions-free air taxi service in the greater New York City region."
The partnership between Joby and HHI was established in November 2023, when Kearny served as a temporary home base for Joby’s aircraft as it performed several flights at the heliport in preparation for Joby’s exhibition flight in New York City hosted by the NYC Economic Development Corporation and Mayor Eric Adams. New York City has committed to electrify the Downtown Manhattan Heliport to enable forthcoming air taxi operations.
The Kearny heliport first opened in 2011 and is currently the largest vertical-lift facility on the east coast, with 27 parking spots for helicopters and plans to expand to 32, according to Joby’s press release. The heliport provides ground services as well as hangar space for maintenance operations to helicopter operators in the NYC region.
“We continue to expand our footprint in Kearny in support of one of the busiest low-altitude corridors in the world, and we’re thrilled to partner with Joby, one of the leading developers of electric air taxis, to bring the next wave of quiet aircraft to residents of the tri-state area," said Jeff Hyman, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of HHI.
Joby’s GEACS charging interface is currently in use at Joby’s flight test center in Marina, California and at Edwards Air Force Base. Joby recently announced a definitive agreement with Clay Lacy Aviation to install a charging system at John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California, as well as a partnership with fixed-base operator (FBO) and aviation services provider Atlantic Aviation to collaborate on the ‘electrification’ of key Atlantic sites in the New York City and Los Angeles metropolitan areas.
