FutureFlight On The Radar
Electric Aviation Pioneers' Fortunes Rise and Fall on Updated SMG Reality Index
Joby now tops SMG Consulting's Advanced Air Mobility Reality Index, which the firm updates monthly based on its analysts' assessments of 20 companies' prospects for bringing new aircraft to market.

With corporate morale and coffers boosted by its recent flotation on the New York Stock Exchange, Joby Aviation is the most upwardly mobile of the new-aircraft developers tracked by SMG Consulting’s Advanced Air Mobility Reality Index (ARI). Now dripping in SPAC-cash, the California start-up tops the index with an 8.4 rating, with some breathing space between it and second-place Beta Technologies.

Climbers in the newly released August ARI include Pipistrel (in the 6th spot), which is working on its Nuuva V300 autonomous eVTOL freighter as well as a family of hybrid-electric or hydrogen-powered regional airliners, and potentially an eVTOL passenger model, too. Other companies increasing their rating are Lilium (8th), Vertical Aerospace (9th), and Elroy Air (13th).