Electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft company Archer Aviation is attempting to establish air taxi services in Abu Dhabi.
Last week, the company ticked off a new milestone in the expansion of its operations in the Middle East. Archer successfully completed an initial flight of its Midnight aircraft at Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi.
The test helped assess readiness for commercial deployment with a specific focus on the the aircraft’s performance in the UAE. This looked closely at the impact of temperature, humidity, and dust exposure. It also supports the Launch Edition commercialisation programme which aims to establish a pragmatic and repeatable commercialisation playbook to deploy Midnight to dozens of early adopter markets.
In light of this successful test, Archer plans to expand its flight-testing programme for Midnight in the region. Speaking on the news, Adam Goldstein, CEO and Founder of Archer Aviation:
“Our initial test flight operations in the UAE represent a critical milestone as we prepare for our commercial deployment in Abu Dhabi. Testing our aircraft in actual operating conditions in the middle of summer provides us with the data we need to progress our commercial and certification efforts both in the UAE and in the US.”
Highlighting the importance of collaboration in driving the sector’s progress, H.E. Badr Al-Olama, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office added:
“This flight marks a significant step towards realising Abu Dhabi’s ambition to lead the world in advanced urban air mobility. Through the Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industry (SAVI) Cluster, we are enabling companies like Archer to test, certify and scale next-generation air mobility solutions, reinforcing our position as a global launchpad for innovation and a hub for transformative technologies.”
The UAE is positioning itself as an early hub for eVTOL deployment. This is a reflection of the growing momentum behind advanced air mobility in the region.
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