by Elsie Clark | Feb 25, 2026 | Innovation
Archer Aviation have sued British rivals Vertical Aerospace, claiming the company’s latest Valo eVTOL design infringes the patent for their Midnight air taxi.
The California-based company has been ramping up testing of Midnight as it plans for certification from the Federal Aviation Authority (AAM). A spokesperson for Archer argued:
After years of developing its VX4 aircraft, Vertical has abandoned that design and unveiled a new aircraft, Valo, which is a visual mimic of Archer’s Midnight aircraft’s award-winning industrial design.
They added that Vertical had ‘knowingly, willfully’ copied Archer’s designs, including flight control systems and methods for managing battery power and flight propulsion. Vertical have dismissed Archer’s lawsuit as ‘without merit’, asserting that the company are attempting to distract the media from wider problems associated with its eVTOL development programme.
In a statement, Vertical said:
Archer’s claims are merely an attempt to distract from Archer’s challenges competing in the marketplace. Vertical has developed a robust aircraft design with a clear path to certification, underpinned by Vertical’s proprietary and market-leading technology and international IP portfolio.
Archer and Vertical’s rivalry has grown more intense in recent years as both companies struggle to gain leverage in an increasingly competitive AAM market. In February this year, Archer announced they were establishing a new base in Bristol, UK, the city where Vertical are headquartered. Meanwhile, Vertical challenged Archer and Joby, another competitor in the space, by announcing plans for a New York air taxi network. Neither company is certified in the US, UK, or abroad as both try to prove eVTOL networks can be safe and efficient modes of transport.
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by Elsie Clark | Jan 9, 2026 | AI & ML, Innovation
US-based advanced air mobility (AAM) company Archer has announced that it will develop new AI tech for aviation with NVIDIA’s IGX Thor platform. Improving pilot safety, advancing autonomous operation, and ensuring airspace integration will be the key priorities during development.
Archer recently acquired Hawthorne Airport in Los Angeles, California, for the purpose of testing its aircraft and new systems. The company will make use of this base as it advances its collaboration with NVIDIA.
Adam Goldstein, Archer’s Founder and CEO, said:
NVIDIA’s AI compute capabilities and software stack give us the foundation to accelerate toward safer, smarter aircraft systems and modernise how aviation interfaces with the world’s airspace.
The IGX Thor platform has been designed to enhance the safety and situational awareness of onboard computers, ensuring high performance at all times. Archer will build on this foundation and explore advanced uses of:
- Real-time flight path data for improved pilot awareness
- Improved routing and traffic planning
- Autonomous and semi-autonomous flight controls
One of the world’s leading AAM companies, Archer’s Midnight eVTOL is rapidly approaching commercialisation. Air taxi trials in the US and Saudi Arabia, announced at the end of 2025, will bring the aircraft closer to regulatory approval. The company has also signed development agreements with authorities in Japan and South Korea.
While the partnership with NVIDIA will contribute significantly to Archer’s product, the results will be of significant interest to the aviation industry as commercial automation begins to take flight.
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by Elsie Clark | Dec 4, 2025 | Innovation
Archer Aviation has revealed plans for its vertiport network across Miami, as the eVTOL company hopes to launch its Midnight air taxis across the Floridian city in 2026.
The plans call for the redevelopment of existing heliports alongside the construction of new purpose-built vertiports. Designed to carry four passengers, Archer says that the Midnight aircraft is ideal for 10- to 20-minute journeys across Miami. The integration of a fully-fledged air taxi network will relieve congestion on the ground safely and efficiently, the company adds.
Miami’s three airports — Miami International, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International, and Palm Beach International — will be redeveloped to host air taxi landing and take-off points. In the city itself, investment firm Dragon Global and real estate developer Related Ross will partner with Archer to build new vertiports serving the Magic City Innovation District and the West Palm Beach development respectively.
Bob Zangrillo, founder of Dragon Global and a partner in the Magic City Innovation District, said;
The Magic City Innovation District was designed as a next-generation hub for technology, culture, and mobility.
By partnering with Archer to integrate an entirely new layer of transportation, [we are embracing] an air mobility network that connects our district with the broader region and advances a multimodal, future-ready transportation ecosystem for South Florida.
Hard Rock Stadium has asserted its readiness to adapt existing helipads for eVTOLs. Home to the Miami Dolphins NFL team, a Formula 1 Grand Prix, and the Miami Open, the stadium is one of the world’s leading sports venues and welcomes millions of visitors each year. Apogee Golf Club, another internationally-renowned sporting venue, also said they were willing to redesign a heliport to accommodate eVTOLs.
The Miami plans represent another stage in Archer’s global commercialisation effort. The company signed a deal with Korean Air earlier this year, and recent partnerships at Dubai Airshow will see eVTOLs flying in Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia.
Francis Suarez, the Mayor of Miami, added:
Miami has never been afraid to bet on the future. We’re a city that attracts visionaries, embraces breakthrough technology, and turns bold ideas into real impact.
For years, I have worked with Archer as they have advanced a vision for an air-taxi network that will elevate Miami’s position as a global capital for innovation and mobility. What they are building is not just transformational transportation; it embodies the Miami mindset: we lead, we innovate, and we redefine what is possible.
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by Elsie Clark | Oct 24, 2025 | Innovation
Korean Air and advanced air mobility (AAM) firm Archer have signed a deal to commercialise Archer’s Midnight eVTOL in South Korea.
Beginning with government applications, the agreement could see Korean Air purchase up too 100 Archer aircraft. South Korea’s expertise in MRO and Archer’s next-generation solution will together build the ideal foundations for commercial AAM adoption.
Adam Goldstein, founder and CEO of Archer, said:
Korean Air’s expertise in aerospace and their comprehensive strategic vision for the future make them the ideal partner for Archer. We are excited to introduce Midnight alongside them in one of the world’s largest aerospace markets.
Korean Air’s Aerospace Division is one of APAC’s leading R&D and manufacturing arms. Actively engaged in research for stealth tech, unmanned aircraft systems, and urban air mobility, the division also supports the US Department for Defense in Asia.
Archer have been ramping up testing in the US as it seeks FAA certification. At recent demonstrations, the Midnight eVTOL has flown at 10,000 feet and conducted journeys of 55 miles in just over 30 minutes.
The company’s partnership with Korean Air brings its futuristic vision to introduce clean, quiet air taxis in urban areas across the globe one step closer.
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by Elsie Clark | Sep 25, 2025 | Innovation
Archer Aviation Inc’s Midnight electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) craft flew at 7,000 feet during a recent test in California. This announcement comes as the company seeks FAA certification to deploy its air taxis in the US.
Archer’s expansion programme is testing the limits of eVTOLs, as research suggests higher-altitude capabilities will be needed. While most air taxis are designed to fly between 1,500 and 4,000 feet, they may need to operate at higher altitudes in densely populated areas and high-elevation cities.
Adam Goldstein, Archer’s founder and CEO, said:
I’m proud of the team for consistently proving Midnight’s performance capabilities while maintaining the highest safety standards. Our test pilots will continue to safely and methodically test Midnight’s speed, duration, and mission profiles to prepare for early commercial operations.
While FAA approval pends, Archer secured fast-track approval for operating its air taxis in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in May 2025. Typically, private aircraft in the UAE need to be certified by the FAA, EASA, or Transport Canada. However, the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has signed a strategic partnership with Archer to bypass these regulations and accelerate the commercial future of eVTOLs in the Arabian Gulf.
Aviation Week Network forecasts that 1,000 eVTOL vehicle deliveries will take place in 2030, more conservative figures than stated elsewhere. Overcoming certification and infrastructure hurdles will be key to the dream of advanced air mobility (AAM) becoming a reality. Archer’s current run of tests hope to demonstrate the technical capabilities of its aircraft and acclerate the critical regulatory approvals process.
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