Archer Earns First Visit from Newly Formed Federal AAM Interagency Working Group

The air taxi manufacturer hosted federal representatives for a flight testing demo of its four-seat Midnight eVTOL.

Thursday, July 06, 2023 at 10:56 AM ET

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More than 70 representatives from 22 federal departments and agencies met at Archer’s flight testing facility in Salinas, California. [Courtesy: Archer Aviation]

Key Takeaways:

Archer Aviation hosted the newly formed federal Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Interagency Working Group, showcasing a live flight test of its Midnight eVTOL to over 70 representatives from 22 government departments and agencies.
The visit aimed to demonstrate Archer's progress in eVTOL design, safety, and certification, aligning with the working group's goal to develop a national strategy for safe AAM integration and launch services by 2025.
Archer is on track to launch air taxi routes in Chicago and the New York-New Jersey metro area by 2025, with Midnight beginning flight tests and a large manufacturing facility under construction in partnership with Stellantis.
Despite a recent DOT audit criticizing the FAA's slow pace of AAM certification, the agency has agreed to implement recommendations to accelerate the process, aiming to keep air taxi services on track for a 2025 launch.

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For the most part, electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft manufacturers try to keep flight testing under wraps. But this week one firm opened its doors to representatives from 22 U.S. federal departments and agencies.

Archer Aviation on Monday hosted the inaugural visit of the freshly formed federal Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Interagency Working Group at its flight testing facility in Salinas, California. About 20 company executives met with over 70 representatives from the Department of Transportation, White House, FAA, NASA, Federal Communications Commission, Department of Defense, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and others.