Midnight, an all-electric aircraft from Archer Aviation, is seen at Salinas Municipal Airport in Salinas, California, August 2, 2023.
Carlos Barria | Reuters
The Federal Aviation Administration granted Archer Aviation a key certification that brings the maker of electric air taxis closer to potential flying travelers, the company said Wednesday.
Archer produces electric vertical takeoff and landing, or eVTOL, aircraft, and in 2021 won orders and support from United Airlineswhich shows that the up-to-date technology can reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Carriers are investing in or ordering eVTOL planes, which take off and land vertically like helicopters and whose developers say they can lower emissions in crowded areas. United, for example, says passengers could be taken to and from the airport in major cities, such as between Manhattan and United’s main hub in Newark, Fresh Jersey.
“Today we received Part 135 certification, which allows us to effectively become an airline so we can carry passengers,” Archer CEO Adam Goldstein told CNBC.
The process took Archer about two years: he submitted more than 2,000 pages of documents and 14 manuals describing operating procedures, training and maintenance.
Now Archer must obtain FAA certification for its four-seater plane called “Midnight,” which the company is currently working on, Goldstein said. According to the company’s estimates, this could allow the launch of air taxis as early as next year. Goldstein said he couldn’t give an exact time frame, but when asked about delays in certifying variants of older planes, he noted that Archer planes are much simpler and contain far fewer components than commercial jets.
Archer’s demonstration plane, the Maker, can fly up to 60 miles with a top speed of 250 miles per hour. The company’s Midnight aircraft has a range of 100 miles, although Archer intends to employ it for shorter distances.
United is working with Archer on what it would look like to introduce an electric plane.
“It’s not something that requires pressing a button,” said Andrew Chang, managing director of United Airlines’ venture division. “It fits how speedy [Archer] we can make progress operationally and how we can fit that into our air hubs.”
Archer started cooperation with a car manufacturer Stellar produce hundreds of electric air taxis.
Archer’s rivals have also made progress. Joby Aviation received the Part 135 certificate two years ago, established cooperation with the United States Air Force and obtained orders and support from Delta Airlines. On Tuesday, Joby said he planned to do just that acquire an autonomous branch of the autonomous aviation company Xwing.
Clarification: This story has been updated to clarify that Archer’s demonstrator plane, the Maker, can fly up to 60 miles with a top speed of 250 mph. The company’s Midnight aircraft has a range of 100 miles, although Archer intends to employ it for shorter distances.
