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:

Billy Nolen, former acting FAA administrator and a seasoned safety officer, has joined Archer Aviation as its Chief Safety Officer to ensure the safety and public confidence in their electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis.
Nolen expects Archer's Midnight air taxis to achieve global operation within a decade, with a commercial launch planned for 2025, emphasizing a robust safety management system and strong collaboration with the FAA to establish U.S. leadership in advanced air mobility.

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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.