Archer Aviation completed a piloted round-trip journey in the United States with its all-electric Midnight aircraft on 30 July, departing from Salinas Municipal Airport and landing at Monterey Regional Airport before making the return flight. Midnight covered each leg of the journey in roughly nine minutes.
Archer worked with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to execute this inter city flight as part of its plans to launch Midnight operations under the White House’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) later this year.
As part of its broader eIPP efforts, Archer is working with the FAA, federal, state and local partners to establish the procedures, infrastructure and local operational capabilities needed to support future commercial air taxi operations. That work also supports preparations in Los Angeles, where Archer will serve as the official air taxi provider for the LA28 Olympic Games.
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Image: A view from Midnight’s cockpit during the round trip journey between Salinas and Monterey (Archer)