City of Watsonville discusses a three-year lease for Joby Aviation College

WATSONVILLE, Calif. (KIONTV) -- The Watsonville City Council will discuss approving a three year aeronautical commercial lease Tuesday for Joby Aviation College on 170 Aviation Way.

The city said that the three-year plan would take effect July 15, 2024 through July 14, 2027.

The Watsonville Municipal Airport confirmed Monday that Joby Aviation College would be Joby's first aviation college and it would elevate the airport to be one of the few training for vertical aircraft. This would be the airport's fourth flight school.

If approved, Joby Aviation College would occupy 6,709 square feet of office, hangar and storage space at $5,416 per month, and another 3,840 square feet of dedicated ramp space for approximately $385, according to the City of Watsonville. The rent will adjust each year in July in accordance with the consumer price index.

The city's Airport Enterprise Fund would collect the lease revenue, which the city believes "will be on-going positive financial impacts as part of the airport’s economic goals and objectives."

If the Watsonville City Council does not approve this agenda item, the property will remain vacant.

Joby Aviation College, Incorporated, is a subsidiary of Joby Aviation, who is working to develop an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for air taxi service, according to Joby.

The company says that the mission of Joby Aviation College "is to remove barriers and increase access to aviation education and careers."