The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has transitioned Archer Aviation’s Midnight electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft into a Restricted Type Certificate (RTC) program, progressing the regulatory pathway for the aircraft’s entry into service in the country.
Archer is the first eVTOL manufacturer to move to an RTC certification track with the GCAA, using an airworthiness pathway aligned with international aviation frameworks. The program provides an established route for the company to begin limited commercial operations while ensuring Midnight is developed under a regulatory baseline that supports long-term commercial viability.
The transition follows several years of technical collaboration between the GCAA and Archer, including multiple on-site inspections by GCAA experts at Archer’s headquarters and flight test facilities in the US, as well as in-country flights with the aircraft. The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) supported the effort as part of its commitment to establishing the emirate as a leader in smart and autonomous vehicle industries.
A key element of the advanced regulatory phase is the initiation of GCAA Design Organization Approval (DOA) and Production Organization Approval (POA) processes. These designations would signify a high degree of confidence in the manufacturer’s engineering and safety management systems.
Archer and the GCAA have made progress across eight workstreams critical to commercial readiness, covering aircraft certification, operations, maintenance, flight crew training, airspace, vertiports, security and oversight.
Eng. Aqeel Al Zarooni, assistant director general of aviation safety affairs at the GCAA, said, “The GCAA is committed to safely integrating innovative aviation technologies into the UAE airspace.”
Adam Goldstein, founder and CEO of Archer, said, “The UAE has been one of the most forward-leaning markets in the world for advanced aviation, and the GCAA has been a strong, collaborative partner throughout this process. Advancing Midnight into this RTC program is a major step toward bringing electric air taxis to the UAE.”
Midnight is planned to enter service in Abu Dhabi with Abu Dhabi Aviation, the company’s local operating partner.
