Nolen’s Next Move Is Air Taxi Safety

Former Acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen tells FLYING why he joined Archer Aviation and what the company has planned for the future.

Jack Daleo

Monday, July 10, 2023 at 04:07 PM ET

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Archer Chief Safety Officer Billy Nolen stands in front of the firm’s flagship Midnight air taxi. [Courtesy: Business Wire]

Key Takeaways:

Former acting FAA administrator Billy Nolen has joined Archer Aviation as Chief Safety Officer, aiming to ensure the safety and public trust in their electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis.
Nolen was attracted to Archer's vision for advanced air mobility (AAM) and its strong safety culture, aligning with his past FAA goal of establishing the U.S. as a leader in emerging aviation technologies.
He expects Archer's Midnight air taxi to achieve commercial launch by 2025, operate at scale by the 2028 Olympics, and fly globally within a decade, emphasizing a world-class safety management system to build public confidence.

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Billy Nolen has made quite the career out of safe flying, first as a safety officer for American Airlines, Qantas, and WestJet, and later as acting administrator of the FAA, a position he held for about 15 months before announcing his decision to step down in April.

Now Nolen, a pilot of 42 years, has begun the next phase of his journey: ensuring the safety of aircraft that have never flown.