FAA Clears Archer Aviation for First Flight

The FAA has inspected Archer Aviation’s prototype electric air taxi program, authorizing a special airworthiness certificate, clearing the way for its first hover test flight.

Thom Patterson

Thursday, December 02, 2021 at 01:00 PM ET

Verified

Archer Aviation’s Maker eVTOL aircraft sits at the test facility in California. [Courtesy: Archer Aviation]

Key Takeaways:

Archer Aviation's "Maker" eVTOL prototype received a special airworthiness certificate from the FAA, officially authorizing its first hover test flight.
The FAA inspection confirmed the aircraft met regulatory guidance and was ready for initial flight testing.
Archer is conducting final preparations for the hover flight and aims to launch its urban air taxi service by 2024, supported by United Airlines.

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FAA representatives have inspected Archer Aviation’s (NYSE:ACHR) prototype air taxi program, the eVTOL maker said Thursday, clearing the way for its first hover test flight.

Archer said its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, dubbed Maker, received a special airworthiness certificate after a formal inspection by the FAA at the company’s flight test facility in California. More commonly known as an experimental certificate—it officially authorizes Archer to begin flight testing.