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Archer Aviation has announced that the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has transitioned its Midnight aircraft into a Restricted Type Certificate (RTC) program.
The company states this transition advances its path into service in the UAE. Archer is the first eVTOL manufacturer to transition to an RTC certification track with the GCAA. The program will allow for limited commercial operations and ensures the Midnight is developed in a way that should support long-term commercial viability in the UAE. An important part of this phase is initiating a GCAA Design Organization Approval (DOA) and Production Organization Approval (POA), which Archer states signifies a high degree of trust in its engineering and safety management systems.
"The GCAA is committed to safely integrating innovative aviation technologies into the UAE airspace," said Eng. Aqeel Al Zarooni, assistant director general of Aviation Safety Affairs Sector at GCAA.
Archer has been working closely with the GCAA, including multiple on-site inspections by experts at Archer's headquarters and flight test facilities in the U.S. and in-country flights with Midnight. Both entities have been making progress on eight workstreams that Archer claims is critical to commercial readiness, including aircraft certification, operations, maintenance, flight crew training, airspace, vertiports, security and oversight.
"The UAE has been one of the most forward-leaning markets in the world for advanced aviation and the GCAA has been a strong, collaborative partner throughout this process," said Adam Goldstein, Archer founder and CEO. "Advancing Midnight into this RTC program is a major step toward bringing electric air taxis to the UAE."
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The Midnight is planned to enter service in Abu Dhabi with Abu Dhabi Aviation, Archer's local operating partner.
"This milestone reflects Abu Dhabi Aviation's confidence in the UAE's aviation ecosystem and Abu Dhabi's readiness to embrace practical innovation," said Mahmood Al Hameli, Abu Dhabi Aviation Group CEO. "It reinforces our commitment to supporting the safe and responsible rollout of advanced air mobility systems, unlocking new opportunities for connectivity, operational efficiency, and sustainable economic growth across the Emirate."