Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft developer Archer Aviation has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Signature Aviation to electrify and access its network of over 200 private airport terminals.
The agreement announced on June 17, 2024, gives Archer access to takeoff and landing sites in major metropolitan areas across the US and globally, including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area, and Texas.
The MOU identifies day-one opportunities for launching Archer’s air taxi service in key United Airlines hubs at Newark International (EWR) and Chicago O’Hare (ORD) airports, as early as the end of 2025.
Archer and United Airlines are working closely to launch the first commercial electric air taxi route in Chicago.
“We are thrilled to join forces with Signature Aviation to advance the infrastructure needed to support the future of urban air mobility. By focusing on electrifying key aviation assets in major cities such as New York and Chicago, we are taking essential steps toward making sustainable and efficient air travel a reality,” said Bryan Bernhard, Archer’s Chief Growth & Infrastructure Officer.
Bernhard added: “This partnership will help us establish a robust network of landing sites across the country to enable the scaling of our air taxi service, ensuring our Midnight aircraft can seamlessly integrate into urban environments and provide a reliable transportation solution for our passengers.”
Archer and Signature plan to leverage their existing partnerships with BETA Technologies to install the company’s interoperable rapid recharging systems across the network of private aviation terminals.
These systems utilize the Combined Charging System, which can charge electric aircraft, cars, airplane tugs, buses, and other forms of transportation commonly used at airports.
“We’re committed to shaping the future of aviation through sustainability and thrilled to work alongside Archer as we expand our infrastructure to support the electrification of the industry,” Derek DeCross, Chief Commercial Officer at Signature Aviation, said. “This collaboration unlocks new possibilities in the design and introduction of innovative sustainable aviation solutions while also bringing our guests greater access to the future of urban air mobility via Archer’s Midnight aircraft.”
Archer Aviation’s eVTOL aircraft Midnight recently completed its first-ever transition flight, successfully moving from vertical takeoff to wing-borne flight.
The news came only a few days after the developer’s subsidiary, Archer Air, received its Part 135 Air Carrier and Operator Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the US.
Archer becomes only the second eVTOL developer in the world, after Joby Aviation, to secure the Part 135 certificate from the FAA.