Archer Aviation has completed a piloted roundtrip flight with its Archer Midnight eVTOL aircraft between Salinas Municipal Airport and Monterey Regional Airport. Conducted on July 30, the demonstration was completed in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration and is intended to support the planned launch of Midnight operations under the White House’s eIPP program later this year.
According to Archer, each leg of the journey took approximately nine minutes.
Archer Midnight eVTOL Completes Intercity Flight
The flight departed from Salinas Municipal Airport, landed at Monterey Regional Airport and returned to Salinas as part of a single roundtrip mission.
According to Archer, the aircraft completed each segment in roughly nine minutes, compared with a trip of approximately 35 minutes or more by car.
The company said the demonstration reflects the type of short-distance routes the Midnight aircraft is designed to operate.
“This roundtrip journey is exactly the kind of route we plan to fly with Midnight under the eIPP and in LA during the Olympic Games,” said Adam Goldstein, founder and CEO of Archer. “This mission provides a template for us to replicate with our partners across Texas, Florida and New York as we get ready for eIPP operations later this year.”
Preparing for eIPP Operations
Archer said it is working with the FAA and federal, state and local partners to establish the procedures, infrastructure and operational capabilities needed to support future commercial air taxi operations.
According to the company, these efforts are intended to support the launch of Midnight operations under the White House’s eIPP initiative later this year.
Supporting LA28 Preparations
The company said its work on the eIPP initiative also supports preparations for the LA28 Olympic Games.
According to Archer, it will serve as the Official Air Taxi Provider for the event.
Midnight Designed for Short Regional Travel
Archer said the Midnight air taxi is designed to replace ground journeys lasting between 60 and 90 minutes with quiet, all-electric flights.
According to the company, the aircraft is intended to reduce travel times while helping passengers avoid increasing roadway congestion.
The Archer Midnight eVTOL demonstration marks another operational milestone as the company prepares for future commercial air taxi operations under the White House’s eIPP initiative.
Source: Press release from Archer Aviation
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