Archer Begins Building Electric Air Taxis for FAA Certification

The aircraft will be evaluated in for-credit testing with the regulator, a crucial step in type certification for a new design.

Jack Daleo

Wednesday, February 07, 2024 at 03:26 PM ET

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Archer is building three type-conforming models of its flagship Midnight air taxi to use in for credit FAA testing. [Courtesy: Archer Aviation]

Key Takeaways:

Archer Aviation has commenced building three type-conforming Midnight eVTOL aircraft for FAA for-credit flight testing, a crucial step toward achieving type certification before its planned 2025 commercial launch.
The Midnight air taxi is designed for rapid, short-distance urban travel (pilot + four passengers), with Archer partnering with United Airlines to launch routes in major U.S. cities.
The company is also establishing a large production plant in Georgia with an annual capacity of up to 2,000 aircraft, aiming for cost-effective manufacturing by utilizing a network of external aerospace providers.

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Archer Aviation, manufacturer of the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) Midnight air taxi, is ramping up prototype production as it works toward type certification with the FAA.

The company on Wednesday said it started building three type-conforming, piloted Midnight aircraft to be used in for-credit flight testing with the regulator, expected to begin later this year. Those evaluations represent a crucial step in the manufacturer’s path to type certification, which it hopes to achieve before its planned 2025 commercial launch.