Archer Aviation is to participate in a US federal program alongside United Airlines and selected cities to conduct trial operations of its Midnight eVTOL aircraft before its full certification.
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) last week announced a framework that enables US cities to participate in the program alongside manufacturers and operators. The eVTOL Integration Pilot Program will allow pre-certification trial operations of electric air taxi aircraft to begin as early as next year.
The trial operations will focus on demonstrating operational safety, noise levels and scalability of electric vertical takeoff and landing operations. These factors are identified as critical for building community acceptance of the new transportation technology.
“We’ll demonstrate that air taxis can operate safely and quietly,” said Adam Goldstein, Archer founder and CEO. “These early flights will help cement American leadership in advanced aviation and set the stage for scaled commercial operations.”
The program was established through a Presidential Executive Order signed in June to accelerate next-generation aviation technologies. The order specifically created the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program to establish pre-certification operating environments for electric aircraft.
Archer is developing the Midnight aircraft for urban air mobility applications with planned commercial operations in multiple cities. United Airlines has invested in Archer since 2021 as part of its strategy to integrate electric air taxi services with traditional airline operations.
“This program underscores President Trump’s commitment to American innovation and to bringing advanced technology to market for our customers,” said Mike Leskinen, United Airlines executive vice president and chief financial officer.
The pilot program is planned to provide operational data and community engagement metrics needed to scale eVTOL transportation. Trial operations under the program will be supervised by the FAA while manufacturers complete the certification process for their aircraft.
In August, Archer completed the longest piloted flight to date with the Midnight aircraft, flying approximately 55 miles (89km) in 31 minutes at speeds exceeding 126mph (203km/h). The flight took place at Archer’s flight test facility in Salinas, California, USA.
Midnight is a piloted, four-passenger aircraft that uses a proprietary twelve-tilt-six propeller configuration and is intended for short-distance trips of around 20 miles (32km) with a charging time of approximately 10 minutes. The aircraft has a maximum range of 100 miles (160km).
