Joby Aviation said it has completed the first piloted flight of an electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft between two public U.S. airports, marking a significant step toward commercial certification of its air-taxi service. The battery-powered prototype travelled roughly 10 nautical miles from Marina Municipal Airport to Monterey Regional Airport in California in about 12 minutes. Conducted in Federal Aviation Administration-controlled Class C airspace, the flight included a five-minute holding pattern to allow an arriving airliner, demonstrating the aircraft’s ability to integrate with existing traffic management systems. The milestone supports Joby’s ongoing type-certification program, with FAA pilots expected to begin flight tests early next year. Joby, which plans to operate in cities such as Los Angeles and New York once certified, saw its shares rise more than 10% in pre-market trading after the announcement.