Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE: ACHR), a pioneering force in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, has announced a significant development: the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has released the final airworthiness criteria for Archer’s Midnight aircraft for public inspection. This milestone marks a crucial step forward in Archer’s journey towards achieving Type Certification for Midnight. Notably, Archer stands as one of only two companies worldwide to have made such progress with the FAA for an eVTOL aircraft.
The finalization of the airworthiness criteria sets the stage for Archer to collaborate closely with the FAA to secure the remaining final approvals on its certification and test plans. This marks a pivotal moment as Archer intensifies its ‘for credit’ testing alongside the FAA and gears up for piloted flight testing slated to commence later this year.
Billy Nolen, Archer’s Chief Regulatory Affairs Officer and former FAA Administrator, emphasized the significance of this development, stating, “Midnight is one giant step closer to taking passengers into the sky in the coming years in the U.S. The final airworthiness criteria for Midnight is an important step on our journey to make electric flying taxis an everyday reality.”
Eric Wright, Archer’s Head of Certification, echoed the sentiment, noting, “Today’s milestone adds significant momentum to Midnight’s certification program as we further ramp up our ‘for credit’ testing efforts with the FAA.”
Archer has been rigorously testing Midnight’s systems and components to ensure safety and flight readiness for the upcoming piloted flight tests, as well as in support of its ongoing FAA certification program. Additionally, substantial progress has been made on the construction of the first three piloted conforming Midnight aircraft. The initiation of piloted flight testing later this year will mark a significant milestone, followed by ‘for credit’ flight testing with the FAA as the company advances towards commercialization.
Archer’s overarching goal is to revolutionize urban travel, offering estimated 10-20 minute flights that are safe, sustainable, low-noise, and cost-competitive with ground transportation, thus significantly reducing commute times.
The press release includes forward-looking statements regarding Archer’s future business plans and market opportunities, emphasizing the company’s commitment to transparency and regulatory compliance.
