Archer Aviation has announced that three of its ‘Midnight’ electric vehicle takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft are currently being constructed at the facility in San Jose, California.
All three eVTOLs will conform to the intended type design for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification and will take part in piloted testing later this year.
The first Midnight aircraft is expected to begin final assembly in the coming weeks, while all three will be used to in ‘for-credit’ flight testing with the FAA as the company progresses towards commercialization.
Before ‘for-credit’ testing can take place, Archer will use the aircraft to complete its piloted test campaign.
“The key to achieving FAA certification is flying a conforming aircraft. I believe we are positioned to be the first in the sector to do so,” Archer Founder and CEO Adam Goldstein, said. “From day one, Archer’s strategy has been to build an aircraft that is certifiable and manufacturable at scale. This focus is what has allowed us to move quicker and more efficiently than any other company in the industry over the last few years.”
In a statement issued on January 30, 2024, Archer confirmed it had successfully completed Phase 1 of its flight test campaign.
Phase 2 of its flight-testing program will include wing-borne transition flights.
If Phase 2 is successfully completed, Archer will then move to Phase 3, which will involve simulated commercial operations between two points under near-real conditions.
Following all three stages being completed Archer will move onto ‘for-credit’ flight testing with the FAA.