Aerospace

Air taxi startup Archer prepares for flight testing

12 May 2023
Archer has completed its Midnight air taxi and its moving to commence testing to receive FAA certification toward commercialization in 2025. Source: Archer Aviation

After completing its final assembly of its first Midnight electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, air taxi startup Archer Aviation Inc. will commence ground and flight tests at its testing facility in Salinas, California.

There, the aircraft will be reassembled and will be put through a series of ground tests leading up to its first planned flight this summer. The Midnight eVTOL will be put through testing to accelerate and reduce risk on its certification programs with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in advance of “for credit” certification testing that the company plans to begin in 2024.

Archer has numerous companies it is working with for future air travel between cities and inter-cities including Stellantis, which will build the aircraft.

Midnight, which was revealed late last year, will be an air taxi with a range of 100 miles and carry a payload of more than 1,000 pounds and four passengers plus a pilot. Archer said the air taxi is designed for back-to-back short distance trips of about 20 miles.

Archer, along with investor United Airlines, announced one of its first flight routes from United’s hub at Newark Liberty International Airport and a downtown Manhattan heliport in New York City. The flight could take as little as 10 minutes from start to finish. The two companies also announced an additional flight path between Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and a Vertiport in Chicago.

Archer is looking to target final assembly in the fourth quarter of 2023 and to begin piloting flight test operations in early 2024. By 2025, commercial pilot operations are expected to commence.

To contact the author of this article, email PBrown@globalspec.com


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