Archer, Atlantic Aviation to develop eVTOL infrastructure

Archer Aviation Inc., a designer and developer of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, and Atlantic Aviation, a fixed-base operator (FBO) network and aviation services provider, recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) focused on establishing sites for electric aircraft operations in the Los Angeles and New York City metropolitan areas, along with Northern California and South Florida.

Archer and Atlantic Aviation plan to electrify several of Atlantic Aviation’s existing aviation assets to support future electric aircraft operations, including Archer’s Midnight air taxi, at Atlantic Aviation locations across four key launch markets.

The companies plan to leverage the parties’ existing relationships with BETA Technologies to install BETA’s interoperable rapid recharging systems. BETA’s chargers use the Combined Charging System (CCS) that was recently endorsed by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) and is being used by several top original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) across the industry.

Atlantic and Archer anticipate launch of service across these initial locations in 2025 and subsequent expansion of services to other locations across Atlantic Aviation’s significant portfolio as availability of Archer’s aircraft scales. Together, Archer and Atlantic Aviation seek to define the infrastructure experience for the electric aircraft industry, offering premium experiences for customers.

“We are excited to work with Atlantic to help electrify their vast portfolio of high-value aviation assets in America’s most congested cities including the New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco markets,” said Nikhil Goel, Archer’s chief commercial officer. “These initial eVTOL vertiport locations will provide a launching pad for future expansion across Atlantic’s portfolio and ensure that our Midnight aircraft has safe, centrally located landing facilities for our future passengers.”

John Redcay, Atlantic Aviation chief commercial and sustainability officer, said: “We are impressed with Archer’s technology and suite of world-class partners including United Airlines; we are excited to work together to electrify our aviation assets to enable quiet and sustainable urban air travel in cities across the U.S.”

Atlantic Aviation offers customers more than 100 FBO locations across North America – and includes locations in Hawaii and the Caribbean.

Archer’s goal is to transform urban travel, replacing 60- to 90-minute commutes by car with estimated 10- to 20-minute electric air taxi flights that are safe, sustainable, low noise, and cost-competitive with ground transportation. Archer’s Midnight is a piloted, four-passenger aircraft designed to perform rapid back-to-back flights with minimal charge time in between flights.

Archer’s Midnight aircraft has been recognized by the MUSE Design Awards as the “Transportation Design of the Year”. The MUSE Design Awards celebrate and honor the world's best in design and innovation. Archer’s team is based in Santa Clara, California.