June 20 Reuters Joby Aviation said on Thursday the U.S. aviation regulator has authorized the use of the airtaxi maker39;s inhouse software to perform tasks such as managing pilot workload and matching passengers with aircraft similar to ridehailing apps.

The nod for the operating system, known as ElevateOS, comes as Joby gears up to launch its commercial airtaxi operations as early as 2025.

The Santa Cruz, Californiabased company is one of the several makers of air taxi also known as electric vertical takeoff and landing eVTOL aircraft that has emerged over the last few years with a promise to decongest urban travel by offering intracity rides.

Joby has commercial agreements to integrate the software with Uber Technologies and Delta Air Lines that will allow passengers to book and pay for flights, Bonny Simi, Joby39;s president of operations, told Reuters in an interview.

ElevateOS was authorized for use by the U.S Federal Aviation Administration FAA as part of its Part 135 Certification, which Joby received in 2022, she said, adding the company has tested the system by ferrying employees between its sites.

The airtaxi maker also plans to make money from selling the software as a service. The company39;s eVTOL aircraft is designed to carry a pilot and four passengers at speeds of up to 200 mph.

Joby, which went public in 2021 through a SPAC merger, has attracted investments from transport industry heavyweights such as Toyota, Uber and Delta Air.

Several large…