FAA issues final airworthiness criteria for Archer Midnight aircraft

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued final airworthiness criteria for Archer Aviation’s Midnight electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. This regulatory milestone solidifies the path for Archer to achieve type certification for Midnight. Archer is one of only two companies in the world to achieve this certification progress with the FAA for an eVTOL aircraft.

Finalization of Archer’s airworthiness criteria unlocks the ability for Archer to work with the FAA to obtain the remaining final approvals on its certification and test plans. This is a critical step as Archer continues to ramp up its for-credit testing with the FAA and prepares to begin its piloted flight testing later this year.

“Midnight is one giant step closer to taking passengers into the sky in the coming years in the U.S. The final airworthiness criteria for Midnight is an important step on our journey to make electric flying taxis an everyday reality,” said Billy Nolen, Archer chief regulatory affairs officer and former administrator of the FAA. “Thank you to the team at the FAA for their continued hard work in support of making the electrification of aviation a reality.”

“Today’s milestone adds significant momentum to Midnight’s certification program as we further ramp up our for-credit testing efforts with the FAA,” added Eric Wright, Archer head of certification.

Archer has put Midnight’s systems and components through rigorous testing as part of its safety of flight readiness for upcoming piloted flight tests later this year and in support of its ongoing FAA certification program. Additionally, the company has made significant progress on the construction of its first three piloted conforming Midnight aircraft. The first aircraft in this initial fleet will begin piloted flight testing later this year, and subsequently be used in for-credit flight testing with the FAA as the company progresses toward commercialization.

Archer’s goal is to transform urban travel, replacing 60-to-90-minute commutes by car with estimated 10-to-20-minute 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 between flights.

Archer's team is based in Santa Clara, California.