Showing posts with label Archer Aviation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Archer Aviation. Show all posts

12 March, 2024

Archer and Falcon Aviation to jointly develop vertiport network in Dubai and Abu Dhabi to get ready for flying car operations in the UAE as soon as 2025

Archer and Falcon Aviation will jointly develop a vertiport network in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, enabling flights between the two cities with Archer’s Midnight flying car while establishing a key operational development for Archer’s plans to launch across the Emirates in both cities as soon as 2025.

 

On March 8, 2024, Falcon Aviation launched the upgraded Falcon Tours Heliport Terminal at the iconic Atlantis, The Palm, which provides helicopter charter service to locals and tourists alike between Dubai’s top hotel on the Palm Jumeirah to key destinations, including Abu Dhabi and other cities in the UAE, as well as sightseeing trips above Dubai’s iconic skyline. As early as next year, the companies plan for this hub to serve Archer’s Midnight aircraft, operated by Falcon Aviation, as a quieter, safer, and more affordable option than helicopters.

This infrastructure partnership reaffirms the collaboration signed into agreement by Falcon Aviation last year to operate a fleet of Archer’s Midnight electric aircraft and expand the two companies' urban air mobility ecosystem in the UAE.




Archer Aviation, a leader in electric flying cars, announced this week that Falcon Aviation, a prominent Aviation Services Operator in the UAE, has been selected as their vertiport infrastructure partner for critical locations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. This collaboration marks a significant step towards launching Archer's Midnight flying car with Falcon Aviation in the UAE and across the MENA region as soon as 2025.

Under this partnership, Archer and Falcon Aviation will start by developing state-of-the-art vertiport infrastructure at Falcon Heliport at Atlantis, the Palm in Dubai and the Marina Mall heliport in Abu Dhabi’s Corniche. Driving between the two cities during peak traffic can take more than 2 hours. Archer and Falcon Aviation plan to offer passenger service in Archer’s Midnight flying car between these two Falcon vertiports, which will operate almost entirely over water with scenic views of both cities and clock in at as little as 30 minutes from takeoff to landing. Archer believes it is the first to announce a flying car service on this route between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, one of the world’s most prominent and congested commute corridors.

“Partnering with established operators such as Falcon Aviation, as well as the capital of the Emirates with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, has been key to quickly building our presence in the region,” said Archer founder and CEO Adam Goldstein. “We look forward to paving the way for the introduction of our Midnight aircraft to the region which will set the stage for the UAE to become a global leader in urban air mobility.”


12 February, 2024

Archer gets p145 certification from the Federal Aviation Administration

Archer Aviation has received its Part 145 certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Under FAA regulations, Archer is now authorized to perform specialized aircraft repair services while maintaining the highest levels of safety and compliance, a key requirement for operating a commercial aviation business. The certification reinforced Archer’s close collaboration with the FAA and reinforced its progress on the path toward commercial flight operations.

“This is a major vote of confidence from the FAA on Archer’s promise and potential for operating a full-scale urban air mobility service in cities across the country,” said Adam Goldstein, Founder and CEO of Archer. “As we continue to rapidly advance towards commercial operations, we will be working closely with the FAA and regulators around the world to ensure Archer’s aircraft are safe and ready to transform mobility, providing a sustainable, low noise, and cost-competitive alternative to decongest our biggest cities.”

The FAA’s Part 145 certification is essential for commercial aviation operators and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), authorizing them to conduct specific maintenance and repair tasks on crucial aircraft components such as airframes. This certification represents a commitment to stringent safety and operational standards, including the meticulous handling and shipment of hazardous materials. It further demonstrates that Archer is prepared to operate repair stations that meet the FAA's rigorous safety and quality benchmarks. As a mark of trust and reliability, it guarantees that maintenance and repairs are executed by authorized experts, ensuring that operations like Archer's adhere strictly to federal regulations, thus enhancing the safety and security of airline operations and passenger travel.

Archer’s goal is to transform urban travel, replacing 60–90-minute commutes by car with estimated 10-20 minute electric air taxi flights that are safe, sustainable, low noise, and cost-competitive with ground transportation. Archer’s Midnight is a piloted, four-passenger aircraft designed to perform rapid back-to-back flights with minimal charge time between flights.



09 February, 2024

Archer making three piloted planes for FAA credit testing

Archer Aviation confirmed they are well underway in constructing the Company’s first three conforming Midnight aircraft, with the first aircraft set to begin final assembly in the coming weeks. Archer’s initial fleet of piloted aircraft will begin piloted flight testing later this year, and subsequently be used in “for credit” flight testing with the FAA as the company progresses towards commercialization.

This latest milestone is another demonstration of Archer's ongoing progress as the Company continues to execute against its commercialization plans. These aircraft will have components and systems that conform to the intended type design, enabling “for credit” flight testing with the FAA after the completion of the Company’s flight testing phase, which is planned to start later this year. Final assembly will be done at Archer’s manufacturing facility in San Jose, California.

“The key to achieving FAA certification is flying a conforming aircraft. I believe we are positioned to be the first in the sector to do so.” said Archer Founder & CEO Adam Goldstein. “From day one, Archer’s strategy has been to build an aircraft that is certifiable and manufacturable at scale. This focus is what has allowed us to move quicker and more efficiently than any other company in the industry over the last few years.”

Archer’s goal is to transform urban travel, replacing 60–90-minute commutes by car with estimated 10-20 minute flights that are safe, sustainable, low noise, and cost-competitive with ground transportation. Archer’s Midnight is a piloted, four-passenger aircraft designed to perform rapid back-to-back flights with minimal charge time between flights.



22 January, 2024

Two top level positions filled at Archer

Miles Rogers joined Archer as its SVP, Head of Marketing bringing 20 years of experience in private aviation to Archer including prior roles at NetJets, Wheels Up, and Marquis Jet

Sterling Gerdes has joined Archer as its Product Lead for Vertiport Experiences after spending 7+ years as a leader at Delta Air Lines focused on bringing new products to customers including overseeing its Advanced Air Mobility strategy


Archer Aviation, a leader in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, has announced two key hires who bring decades of additional aviation experience to the company. Long-time private aviation executive, Miles Rogers, has joined Archer as its Senior Vice President, Head of Marketing, and Sterling Gerdes has joined Archer as its Product Lead for Vertiport Experiences. Rogers, who brings twenty years of experience at private aviation companies, including NetJets and most recently as the Chief Strategy Officer at Delta Air Lines-backed Wheels Up, will lead and oversee Archer’s global marketing efforts. Sterling Gerdes comes to Archer after spending over seven years at Delta Air Lines focused on bringing new products to customers including overseeing its early Advanced Air Mobility strategy. Their combined experience and skills will be integral to Archer’s commercialization efforts as the company readies for its Midnight electric air taxi’s planned entry into service in 2025.

“Miles and Sterling bring the perfect mix of experience and skills to Archer’s management team as we accelerate towards commercialization in 2025,” said Nikhil Goel, Archer’s Chief Commercial Officer. “At Wheels Up, Miles pioneered key strategic initiatives to build the company into a well known brand. At Delta Air Lines, Sterling oversaw the company’s early AAM strategy, with a focus on integrating eVTOL aircraft into its operations to upgrade a traveller’s home-to-airport experience. We couldn’t be more excited to have both leaders join the Archer team.”

“I’m honoured to be joining Archer as the level of talent that has come to work here is unlike anything I’ve ever seen in my career and ensures we’re set up to successfully execute the company’s vision across every aspect of the business,” said Rogers. “The value proposition Archer is poised to deliver with our Midnight eVTOL aircraft goes well beyond saving people time. We have the opportunity to change our customers' perspective on the communities they live in by providing a travel experience that unlocks new worlds of opportunity. I look forward to building out our strategic initiatives with new partners all over the world as we bring our brand to market and change the game in urban transportation.”

28 October, 2023

Midnight takes flight......... The future of electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft just got a major step closer.....




Archer Aviation, a leader in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, announced this week that its flight test program hit another key milestone as the company’s Midnight aircraft took flight. This milestone builds on Archer’s four years of flight testing, including two years of full-scale flight testing with Maker.

“This next phase of Archer’s flight test program is only possible because of the four years of flight testing we’ve done. Midnight is building on the successes of its predecessor aircraft and represents another significant step forward in Archer’s path to commercialization,” said Archer’s founder and CEO Adam Goldstein. “The next year and a half will be focused on continuing to rapidly advance our flight test program and Archer’s electric air taxi operations as we prepare to bring Midnight to market in 2025.”

“Having taken seven full-size eVTOL aircraft from design to flight test during my career in the eVTOL industry, today’s milestone with Midnight marks the most significant flight to date bringing Archer and the eVTOL industry another step closer to bringing a scalable and commercially viable aircraft to market,” said Archer COO Tom Muniz.

27 October, 2023

Archer's Midnight takes flight


Archer Aviation, a leader in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, announced today that its flight test program hit another key milestone as the company’s Midnight aircraft took flight. This milestone builds on Archer’s four years of flight testing, including two years of full-scale flight testing with Maker.

“This next phase of Archer’s flight test program is only possible because of the four years of flight testing we’ve done. Midnight is building on the successes of its predecessor aircraft and represents another significant step forward in Archer’s path to commercialization,” said Archer’s founder and CEO Adam Goldstein. “The next year and a half will be focused on continuing to rapidly advance our flight test program and Archer’s electric air taxi operations as we prepare to bring Midnight to market in 2025.”

“Having taken seven full-size eVTOL aircraft from design to flight test during my career in the eVTOL industry, today’s milestone with Midnight marks the most significant flight to date bringing Archer and the eVTOL industry another step closer to bringing a scalable and commercially viable aircraft to market,” said Archer COO Tom Muniz.

25 October, 2023

Securities Lawsuit Against Archer Is Dismissed

Archer Aviation, a leader in electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, announced today that the plaintiff in the federal securities lawsuit filed against Archer on September 21, 2023 (Cenderelli v. Archer Aviation, Inc.) has chosen to voluntarily dismiss the case. The plaintiff’s dismissal comes shortly after Archer filed its motion to dismiss the case on October 13, 2023.

Archer is designing and developing electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for use in urban air mobility networks. Archer’s mission is to unlock the skies, freeing everyone to reimagine how they move and spend time. Archer's team is based in Santa Clara, CA. 

Andy Missan, Archer’s Chief Legal Officer said, “We are very pleased that the plaintiff has decided to dismiss the case. Archer continues to remain focused on delivering on its mission and creating value for shareholders.”



18 October, 2023

Archer & Abu Dhabi Investment Office announce plans to have Archer’s All-Electric Air Taxi Service across the UAE



Archer Aviation, a leader in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, announced today that it has entered into an agreement with ADIO pursuant to which the parties intend to work together to make Abu Dhabi its first international launch partner, with plans to commence air taxi operations in Abu Dhabi in 2026. As part of this strategic initiative, ADIO plans to support Archer with incentives for establishing its first international headquarters and manufacturing facilities in the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industry (SAVI) Cluster in Abu Dhabi.

ADIO and Archer held a signing ceremony today at which they, along with several other aviation industry participants from across the region, including Falcon Aviation and GAL-AMMROC, committed to support this strategic initiative. Archer is still in discussions with numerous other industry participants that it plans to announce MOUs with when the company is in the region to showcase its Midnight aircraft at the Dubai Air Show from November 13-17, as well as the​ Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels (CAAF) hosted by ICAO and the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) the following week in Dubai​.

Archer is seeking to work with its global manufacturing partner Stellantis, as well as local partners in the UAE, to build out its aircraft manufacturing capabilities and its Center of Excellence in Abu Dhabi. Archer’s Center of Excellence will be focused on the development and implementation of next-generation aviation technologies.


His Excellency Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the General Civil Aviation Authority, said: “The GCAA recently visited Archer Aviation’s global headquarters in California to inspect its Midnight aircraft and learn about their certification progress with the Federal Aviation Administration. Our goal is to approve Archer’s air taxi to fly in the UAE as soon as it is certified by the FAA, and we are very excited to collaborate with them to bring electric air taxis to the country.”

His Excellency Badr Al-Olama, Acting Director General of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, said: “We are thrilled to work with Archer to host their first international operations in Abu Dhabi. Bringing electric aviation to the UAE will help unlock congestion with zero emissions and, in turn, bring millions in foreign direct investment and thousands of jobs to the region over the next decade.”

Archer has raised over $1.1 billion of funding to date, including investments from Mubadala Capital, United Airlines, Stellantis, and Boeing.

Archer Aviation’s Founder and CEO, Adam Goldstein, said, “We are excited to announce this joint collaboration for the United Arab Emirates to become our first international market outside of the United States. Archer plans to partner closely with ADIO and the Department of Economic Development to bring manufacturing and operations for our air taxis to the region. Together, we are positioned to be a driving force in making all-electric air taxis a reality in the skies of the UAE and beyond in the coming years.”

Meera Al Suwaidi, Head of Value Creation at Mubadala Investment Company, said: “Through our asset management subsidiary Mubadala Capital, we have been an investor in Archer for several years. We are looking forward to working alongside them for the debut of their Midnight aircraft at the Dubai Air Show later this year, and to continue discussions on further expanding our collaboration.”

Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis, said, “We are excited to be working with Archer to begin establishing a high-volume manufacturing facility for the Midnight aircraft in the United States over the last couple of years. We hope this first production site will be a blueprint for future Archer manufacturing facilities as it expands operations to serve new regions, starting with the Middle East, where we see extraordinary potential for urban air mobility.”

Archer is working with numerous industry partners across the UAE to support its plans to commercialize operations in the UAE by 2025. Today, Archer signed MOUs with Falcon Aviation who will operate its air taxis across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as well as GAL-AMMROC who will provide MRO support for Archer’s eVTOL aircraft.

Falcon Aviation Vice Chairman, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Sultan Bin Khalifa, said, “Falcon Aviation has built an unparalleled reputation for flying passengers in helicopters across the UAE for nearly two decades. With this agreement with Archer, we look forward to continuing to provide world-class passenger transport in all-electric air taxis across Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the next decades to come.”

Mahmood Alhay Alhameli, CEO of GAL & AMMROC, commented: “Based on Archer’s eVTOL technology, their plans to launch and manufacture in the UAE, coupled with our trusted experience in providing maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for our wide range of industry-leading clients, GAL & AMMROC is proud to have been chosen as the ideal launch partner for Archer.”

Archer’s goal is to transform urban travel, replacing 60–90-minute commutes by car with estimated 10-20 minute electric air taxi flights that are safe, sustainable, low noise, and cost-competitive with ground transportation. Archer’s Midnight is a piloted, four-passenger aircraft designed to perform rapid back-to-back flights with minimal charge time between flights.


05 October, 2023

Archer Receives First U.S. Air Force Payment


Archer Aviation Inc. a leader in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, announced this week that the U.S. Air Force has provided the company with its first installment of nearly $1M on their recently announced contracts valued at up to $142 million. The initial payment is expected to be the first of many payments made to Archer by the U.S. Air Force and signals the ongoing advancement of the partnership from signature to execution as the AFWERX Agility Prime program works diligently with Archer to assess the transformational potential of the vertical flight market and eVTOL technologies for DoD purposes.

The initial payment is related to a contracted deliverable for a mobile flight simulator which the U.S. Air Force and Archer will use together to train pilots, assess flight controls and improve U.S. Air Force personnel’s understanding of the operational capabilities of Archer’s civilian use eVTOL aircraft platform and potential future development of aircraft for Air Force use. The simulator will also be deployed to key public and industry events to increase public awareness and engagement with eVTOL technology.

Several more of Archer’s deliverables are already underway with the U.S. Air Force as part of the contracts, which include the sharing of wind tunnel testing reports, project specific certification plans (PSCP’s) and Subject Specific Certification Plans (SSCP’s).

“Archer’s eVTOL technology can help maintain the United States’ position as a global leader in aviation. To see our historic contract with the U.S. Air Force move from signature to execution at a rapid pace is a reflection of the strong commitment that the U.S. Department of Defense has made to securing our country's future by investing in transformational technology,” said Adam Goldstein, Archer’s CEO and founder.

With its vertical takeoff and landing capabilities, target payload of approximately 1,000lbs, proprietary electric powertrain system, and low noise profile, Archer’s Midnight aircraft represents a potential paradigm shift in military aviation and operations. These aircraft hold the promise of enhancing rapid response, agility, and operational effectiveness across a wide range of mission profiles, from personnel transport and logistics support to rescue operations and more. Archer’s Midnight aircraft are expected to provide a much safer and quieter alternative to helicopters while being more cost-effective for the U.S. military to transport, operate and maintain in the field.

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

11 August, 2023

Archer Aviation makes major announcements .....

Archer Aviation one of the key leaders in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft has this week announced its operating and financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023. The company also made a number of other announcements this week, including notification that the firm has settled a legal battle between it, Wisk Aero and The Boeing Company, which paves the way for joint collaboration and financial security.  A major investment and Special Airworthiness Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration has been granted.

Archer has landed a $215 million equity investment from industry leaders Stellantis, Boeing and United Airlines, as well as other financial institutions, including ARK Invest, increasing the company’s total funding to over $1.1 billion to date, received FAA approval to begin flying its Midnight eVTOL aircraft, and reached an agreement with Boeing and Wisk to enter into an autonomous flight collaboration and settle litigation between the companies. Additionally, Archer announced that it is on track to complete what it believes will be the first-ever eVTOL aircraft delivery to a customer as part of its recently announced contracts with the Department of Defense (DoD). These announcements come on the heels of the FAA Administrator leaving to join Archer and the DoD awarding Archer the largest total contract value of any eVTOL company.

“Over the last quarter, we’ve seen the U.S. government make an unwavering commitment that America will lead the way in commercializing eVTOL aircraft, the FAA validated the timeline for eVTOL aircraft to begin operations in the U.S. in 2025, and leaders in the mobility industry, Stellantis, United Airlines and Boeing, have come together to invest in Archer’s future,” said Adam Goldstein, Archer’s Founder and CEO. “The pace at which our industry is advancing is unprecedented. Our team’s hard work and dedication have brought us to this exciting moment, and we can't wait to see Midnight soar,” added Goldstein.

Archer Aviation Secures $215M Investment


Led by Stellantis, Archer’s long-term strategic partner, Archer today announced it has further strengthened its liquidity position with a $215 million equity investment round. This investment round includes an acceleration of $70 million from Stellantis under the strategic funding agreement entered into in January 2023, with $55 million remaining available under that facility. The commitment from Stellantis has been unrivalled, from its foresight to provide the manufacturing expertise and capital needed to accelerate Archer’s business objectives, to the strategic vision and steadfast support from CEO Carlos Tavares and Chief Engineering and Technology Officer Ned Curic.

The roster of investors from this latest funding round also includes United Airlines and industry giant Boeing, as well as other financial institutions, including ARK Invest. The funds from this round are intended to be used for working capital and general corporate purposes, including Archer’s continued development of its aircraft and related technology, as well as the build out of its manufacturing and test facilities.

Boeing, Archer, and Wisk Reach Agreement to Enter into Autonomous Flight Collaboration and Settle Litigation


Archer and Wisk, leaders in the advanced air mobility industry, along with The Boeing Company, announced a collaboration that looks forward to the growth and development of the AAM industry. Simultaneously, the parties reached a settlement to resolve the federal and state court litigation between them. This collaboration puts Archer in a unique position -- to be able to source autonomy technology from a leader in the industry. Over the long term, autonomy is seen as one of the keys to achieving scale across all AAM applications, from passenger to cargo and beyond.

This strategic relationship will leverage each company’s respective strengths and competencies with the goal of accelerating the commercialization of autonomous flight. This approach is a natural extension of Archer’s overall strategy of focusing its in-house research and development on the key enabling technologies that cannot be sourced from the existing aerospace supply base, thereby helping Archer potentially avoid hundreds of millions of dollars of spending.

FAA Issues Midnight Aircraft Certificate to Begin Flying


Archer today announced that its Midnight aircraft received its Special Airworthiness Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This certification signals that Archer’s Midnight aircraft has successfully met all FAA safety requirements allowing it to begin flight test operations, which Archer expects to commence in the coming weeks.

Archer continues to make strong progress on Midnight’s certification program with the FAA in support of the company’s planned entry into service in 2025. This is an important step as Archer readies to begin its piloted "for credit" testing of its Midnight aircraft with the FAA in early 2024 and bring online the world’s first high-volume eVTOL production facility in Covington, Georgia in mid-2024 alongside Stellantis.

As part of Archer’s recently announced landmark agreements with the Department of Defense valued at up to $142 million, Archer announced today that it is on track to deliver the Midnight aircraft to the U.S. Air Force later this year or early next year. Archer believes this would make Midnight the first-ever eVTOL aircraft delivered to a customer.

22 July, 2023

Archer hires Uber Elevate co-founder, Nikhil Goel, as Chief Commercial Officer

Archer Aviation announced Nikhil Goel has joined as the company’s Chief Commercial Officer. Goel will lead the execution of Archer’s global commercialization efforts as the company prepares to bring Midnight to market in 2025 in the U.S. in partnership with United Airlines. Goel brings deep industry expertise to Archer after co-founding Uber Elevate, Uber’s air taxi division, and jointly authoring the Uber Elevate white paper that is widely credited with establishing the vision for the commercial eVTOL aircraft industry.

As Chief Commercial Officer, Goel will be responsible for spearheading Archer’s commercialization strategy with a focus on bringing New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and San Francisco online as Archer’s initial domestic markets and capturing international demand by stewarding partnership opportunities across several key markets, including the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. Goel’s addition is timely as Archer is continuing to rapidly advance its commercialization efforts after receiving a $10 million pre-delivery payment from United Airlines for 100 eVTOL aircraft that it anticipates deploying into the multiple point-to-point routes it has announced alongside United in the U.S.

After starting at Uber as a product leader on the emerging markets and rider experience teams, Goel co-founded Uber Elevate. Working alongside NASA and Uber executives, Goel helped spearhead the vision for Uber Elevate which has, in turn, inspired the approach to commercializing the industry. In 2020, Goel helped spin off the Uber Elevate business in a strategic sale to Joby Aviation. Goel has been a Senior Advisor to Archer since 2020 and prior to Uber held roles at McKinsey & Company, Google, Microsoft, and NASA. He attended Vanderbilt University and earned his Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a double major in computer engineering and economics.

04 July, 2023

Archer hosts U.S. President Biden’s Federal AAM Interagency Working Group

Over 70 representatives from the DOT, White House, FAA, NASA, FCC, DOD, DHS, NTIA and other agencies attended the event.



Archer Aviation proudly hosted the Federal AAM Interagency Working Group at its flight test facility recently. The delegation of federal stakeholders featured more than 70 representatives from the DOT, White House, FAA, NASA, FCC, DOD, NTIA, and other agencies who met with over 20 Archer executives. As part of the visit, the attendees witnessed a live flight test, viewed Archer’s Midnight aircraft and learned more about Archer’s approach to aircraft design, safety and certification.

Archer showcased its fleet of eVTOL aircraft to AAM working group, including a test flight demonstrating safe, low noise operations.



The Biden Administration formed the Federal AAM Interagency Working Group to meet the requirements of the Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act, which was passed by Congress and signed into law in October 2022. The working group supports the goal of achieving safe integration of Advanced Air Mobility into the national airspace and ensuring that the U.S. maintains its global leadership position in the aerospace industry. This is being done in order to grow new transportation options, amplify economic activity and jobs, advance environmental sustainability and new technologies, and support emergency preparedness and competitiveness.

26 June, 2023

Safran and Archer collaboration produces avionics technology for Archer’s Midnight eVTOL aircraft


Safran Electronics & Defense and Archer Aviation Inc. shared details of their ongoing collaboration on cutting-edge avionics technology, which kicked off back in 2021. This collaboration is focused on delivering groundbreaking solutions to Archer that utilizes Safran Electronics & Defense’s industry-leading components that have a proven track record of safety and performance. The two companies have initially focused their development and testing on Safran Electronics & Defense’s ultra-compact avionics platform (UCAP) flight control computer (FCC) and SkyNaute navigation system, which are both used in Archer’s Midnight eVTOL aircraft.

Archer’s use of Safran Electronics & Defense’s UCAP FCC and SkyNaute navigation system is a key element of its goal of achieving the most efficient path to certification. For Midnight, Archer is focused on sourcing leading technology from world-class aerospace suppliers with certification expertise. Safran Electronics & Defense is a global leader in safety-critical software and hardware for the aviation industry.

Equipped with a powerful multi-core processor, Safran Electronics & Defense’s UCAP provides high-performance computing capabilities, as well as high-integrity and safety features. SkyNaute adheres to the safety and reliability requirements necessary for certification by relying on mature and proven technologies such as HRG Crystal (Hemispherical Resonator Gyroscopes). This innovative navigation system achieves high performance and integrity while providing a 35% reduction in size and weight when compared to alternatives.

14 June, 2023

Billy Nolen, former FAA administrator, joins Archer as Its Chief Safety Officer

Archer Aviation has appointed Billy Nolen, former acting FAA Administrator, as its Chief Safety Officer. Nolen’s expertise in aviation safety and flight operations, along with his deep passion and excitement for advanced air mobility, will further strengthen Archer’s ability to successfully commercialize urban air mobility at scale.

“Billy is an incredible leader and has long been a staunch supporter of the eVTOL aircraft industry, spearheading our country’s and the FAA’s global leadership role in this important area,” said Adam Goldstein, Archer’s founder and CEO. “Together, we will shape the future of transportation and make sustainable, efficient air travel a reality.”

While at the FAA, Nolen led the agency’s efforts to enable the safe entry of eVTOL aircraft into the national airspace. Nolen has been a strong advocate for the eVTOL aircraft industry and its role in changing the way the world moves. In his new position, Nolen will play a leadership role to help Archer more effectively collaborate with industry stakeholders and help ensure its safe entry into service as it prepares for planned commercialization in 2025.

13 June, 2023

Stellantis and Archer to host European debut of Midnight eVTOL aircraft at 2023 Paris Air Show


Archer Aviation and Stellantis N.V. will attend the 54th edition of the 2023 Paris Air Show, starting June 19, 2023, to share progress toward scaling manufacturing of Archer’s Midnight eVTOL aircraft as Archer prepares for planned commercialization in 2025.

Archer’s Midnight aircraft will be the featured eVTOL aircraft at the Paris Air Show, positioned in the centre of the Air Mobility event, which is located in Hall 5 at Le Bourget Airport. Dedicated to the latest innovations and emerging technologies in eVTOL, the Paris Air Show’s Air Mobility event will bring together key players of this sector with three days of discussions focused on the maturation of advanced air mobility and its impact on the future of aerospace.

This unique partnership in the eVTOL aircraft industry between Archer and Stellantis will leverage each company’s respective strengths and competencies to bring the Midnight aircraft to market at scale. To complement Archer’s world-class team of eVTOL aircraft, electric powertrain and certification experts, Stellantis is contributing advanced manufacturing technology and expertise, experienced personnel and capital to the partnership. This combination is intended to enable the rapid scaling of aircraft production to meet Archer’s commercialization plans, while allowing Archer to strengthen its path to commercialization by helping it avoid hundreds of millions of dollars of spending during the manufacturing ramp-up phase.

12 May, 2023

Archer gets ready for flight test by rolling out first Midnight aircraft


One of the leading electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft developers, Archer Aviation has confirmed the final assembly of its first Midnight aircraft has been completed.


Last week the aircraft was shipped from Archer’s Palo Alto facility to its flight test facility in Salinas, California and reassembled. Archer will now take this aircraft through a series of ground tests leading up to its planned first flight this summer. The Midnight aircraft has recently garnered significant attention from the U.S. Department of Defense given its payload capabilities.


This Midnight aircraft will enable Archer to perform critical “company testing” to accelerate and reduce risk on its certification program with the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) in advance of “for credit” certification testing that the company plans to begin early next year with piloted Midnight aircraft.


This aircraft will now fly to many of the same test points that will be needed during piloted “for credit” flight testing in order to further validate the aircraft before the FAA witnesses and participates in the testing. Component manufacturing is already underway for Archer’s conforming Midnight aircraft. Archer is targeting the completion of the final assembly of its initial conforming Midnight aircraft in Q4 2023 and to begin piloted flight test operations in early 2024.


“Today we announced our exciting progress that the final assembly of our first Midnight aircraft is now complete and it is preparing for its flight test program,” said Adam Goldstein, Archer’s Founder and CEO. “This aircraft will accelerate and reduce risk on our certification program paving the way for our team to focus on building and conducting piloted operations with conforming aircraft to support the goal of entering into service in 2025.”


Archer’s industry-leading team, alongside its key strategic partners, Stellantis and United Airlines, continues to advance its aircraft development and commercial operations with impressive speed and efficiency.


With a range of up to 100 miles, Archer’s Midnight aircraft is designed to perform rapid back-to-back flights with minimal charge time in between. Archer’s goal is to transform inter-city travel, replacing 60-90 minute commutes by car that can take over an hour in traffic with ~10-20 minute electric air taxi flights that are safe, sustainable, low noise and cost competitive with ground transportation.


24 March, 2023

United Airlines and Archer have selected O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to Vertiport Chicago.............

United Airlines and Archer have selected O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to Vertiport Chicago as the next point to point route in which the two companies will utilize Archer’s electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft as part of their urban air mobility (UAM) network buildout
Chicago has a long-standing reputation as a major transportation center and leader in mobility innovation and, with ORD being United’s largest operations hub, it provides an ideal location for United and Archer to ramp their UAM operations
This announcement is an important step forward as United and Archer work with partners, like the City of Chicago, Chicago Department of Aviation, World Business Chicago, the State of Illinois, ComEd, and Vertiport Chicago to ensure the appropriate infrastructure is in place around the Chicago Metropolitan Area to support the safe integrating of eVTOL aircraft operations into the City’s transportation ecosystem in 2025.

Archer Aviation and United Airlines today announced plans to launch the first air taxi route in Chicago, between O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Vertiport Chicago. Vertiport Chicago, North America’s largest vertical aircraft takeoff and landing facility, is located in the Illinois Medical District near the Chicago Loop. This site was selected as the takeoff and landing site for this airport to city centre route because of its unparalleled convenience, access and service. From there, passengers will be able to travel to and from ORD via Archer’s Midnight aircraft in approximately 10 minutes. A similar trip by car can take upwards of an hour or more during rush hour traffic.

United and Archer’s goal for its UAM network is to provide residents and visitors in the Chicago Metropolitan Area with a safe, sustainable, low-noise, and cost-competitive alternative to ground transportation beginning in 2025. Chicago is the third most populous city in the United States, a centre for business, innovation and investment, and home to United’s headquarters. This makes it a unique city for Archer and United to build out. The early launch routes will focus in on airport to city centre transportation services, which are referred to as “trunk” routes. Once the trunk routes have been established, the next step will be to build out “branch” routes to connect to surrounding communities.

"Both Archer and United are committed to decarbonizing air travel and leveraging innovative technologies to deliver on the promise of the electrification of the aviation industry,” said Michael Leskinen, President of United Airlines Ventures. “Once operational, we’re excited to offer our customers a more sustainable, convenient and cost-effective mode of transportation during their commutes to the airport.”

"Technological innovation thrives here in Chicago, and this venture between Archer and United is yet another example of this strength," said Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot. "This exciting new technology will further decarbonize our means of transportation, taking us another step forward in our fight against climate change. I'm pleased that Chicago residents will be among the first in the nation to experience this innovative, convenient form of travel."

23 March, 2023

United Airlines and Archer Announce first commercial electric air taxi route in Chicago

United Airlines and Archer have selected O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to Vertiport Chicago as the next point to point route in which the two companies will utilize Archer’s electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft as part of their urban air mobility (UAM) network buildout
Chicago has a long-standing reputation as a major transportation center and leader in mobility innovation and, with ORD being United’s largest operations hub, it provides an ideal location for United and Archer to ramp their UAM operations
This announcement is an important step forward as United and Archer work with partners, like the City of Chicago, Chicago Department of Aviation, World Business Chicago, the State of Illinois, ComEd, and Vertiport Chicago to ensure the appropriate infrastructure is in place around the Chicago Metropolitan Area to support the safe integrating of eVTOL aircraft operations into the City’s transportation ecosystem in 2025.

Archer Aviation and United Airlines today announced plans to launch the first air taxi route in Chicago, between O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Vertiport Chicago. Vertiport Chicago, North America’s largest vertical aircraft takeoff and landing facility, is located in the Illinois Medical District near the Chicago Loop. This site was selected as the takeoff and landing site for this airport to city centre route because of its unparalleled convenience, access and service. From there, passengers will be able to travel to and from ORD via Archer’s Midnight aircraft in approximately 10 minutes. A similar trip by car can take upwards of an hour or more during rush hour traffic.

United and Archer’s goal for its UAM network is to provide residents and visitors in the Chicago Metropolitan Area with a safe, sustainable, low-noise, and cost-competitive alternative to ground transportation beginning in 2025. Chicago is the third most populous city in the United States, a centre for business, innovation and investment, and home to United’s headquarters. This makes it a unique city for Archer and United to build out. The early launch routes will focus in on airport to city centre transportation services, which are referred to as “trunk” routes. Once the trunk routes have been established, the next step will be to build out “branch” routes to connect to surrounding communities.

"Both Archer and United are committed to decarbonizing air travel and leveraging innovative technologies to deliver on the promise of the electrification of the aviation industry,” said Michael Leskinen, President of United Airlines Ventures. “Once operational, we’re excited to offer our customers a more sustainable, convenient and cost-effective mode of transportation during their commutes to the airport.”

"Technological innovation thrives here in Chicago, and this venture between Archer and United is yet another example of this strength," said Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot. "This exciting new technology will further decarbonize our means of transportation, taking us another step forward in our fight against climate change. I'm pleased that Chicago residents will be among the first in the nation to experience this innovative, convenient form of travel."

03 December, 2022

Archer Completes Maker’s First Full Transition Flight


Archer Aviation Inc. announced on Friday that Maker successfully completed its first transition to full wing-borne flight on November 29, 2022. Maker has 12 propellers attached to six booms on a fixed wing. All 12 propellers provide vertical lift during take-off and landing. The forward 6 propellers tilt forward to cruise position to provide propulsion during forward flight, with the wing providing aerodynamic lift like a conventional airplane. During this flight, Maker’s tilt propellers were locked in cruise position for the first time and the aircraft flew at a calibrated airspeed of 91 knots (105 mph).


Full transition occurs when the aircraft “transitions” from lift generated by the propellers at low speeds to lift generated by the wing at higher speeds, and the tilt propellers are locked forward in the cruise position

Maker is one of a small number of full scale eVTOL aircraft in the world to achieve this feat

This is yet another significant building block as Archer continues its push to be the first company to certify an eVTOL aircraft in the US with the FAA



Achieving this full transition milestone is critical to validating the flight physics of Archer’s proprietary 12-tilt-6 propeller configuration that it uses on Maker as well as Midnight, which is the aircraft Archer recently unveiled at its Open House on November 16th and is working to certify with the FAA in late 2024. The success of the Maker flight testing program also demonstrates a number of the key enabling technologies for Midnight, such as the aircraft’s flight control system. The Maker flight test program has generated invaluable data that Archer has leveraged in the development and certification process for Midnight. Archer has made rapid progress on Maker’s flight testing program, completing this transition to fully wing-borne flight in less than 12 months after its first hover flight.

“From day one, Archer’s strategy has always been about finding the most efficient path to commercializing eVTOL aircraft,” said Adam Goldstein, Archer’s Founder and CEO. “The data and experience we’ve gathered from Maker’s rigorous flight testing program has been invaluable to the development and certification path of Midnight, and lends further confidence to our belief that Archer will be the first company to certify an eVTOL aircraft in the US with the FAA.”

“This significant achievement is a testament to the countless hours of design, simulation and wind tunnel testing that our team has conducted behind-the-scenes,” said Dr. Geoff Bower, Archer’s Chief Engineer responsible for overseeing Maker’s flight test campaign. Dr. Bower has over a decade of experience in the eVTOL aircraft industry, during which he has helped design and build four full-scale eVTOL aircraft that have successfully completed flight test campaigns. More technical details from the flight can be found in his recent blog here. “Looking forward to the commercialization of Midnight, we’ll continue to draw upon the incredible findings and lessons learned from Maker’s flight testing program.”









18 November, 2022

Archer Aviation selects battery suplier for its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, Midnight.


Archer Aviation Inc. and E-One Moli Energy Corp. (Molicel), an industry-leading supplier of lithium-i
on battery cells have announced they have entered into a memorandum of understanding for Molicel to manufacture and supply the battery cells for Archer’s production electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, Midnight.

The selection of Molicel represents another important step towards Archer’s goal of developing the supply base necessary to allow it to manufacture Midnight reliably and at scale

Archer is focused on building an aircraft tailored to the needs of intra-city travel, optimizing its Midnight aircraft to perform back-to-back short distance flights of about 20 miles with approximately 10-minute charging cycles in-between. Batteries are an important consideration in achieving Midnight’s desired payload, range and charging time. The ability to operate eVTOL aircraft in dense, urban environments requires state-of-the-art, reliable battery cells that can deliver high power, low impedance and fast charging capabilities.

Molicel’s advanced battery technology and fast growing production capacity make them an ideal partner for Archer as it continues on its ramp to commercialization. Last year, Molicel announced plans to establish its first Gigafactory in Taiwan, which is scheduled to ramp up production in 2023. The facility will have the capacity to produce 1.8 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of battery capacity annually. Molicel's high-performance cells also offer a significant cycle life when utilized in Archer's battery pack and, as a result, reduce the long-term operating cost for its Midnight production aircraft. Partnering with a world-class battery supplier that can reliably manufacture cells at scale, allows Archer to reduce its certification risk, as well as its development timelines and costs.

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