Archer Advances Closer to Flying Air Taxis in Abu Dhabi with New Certification Program

The United Arab Emirates has moved closer to the reality of launching flying air taxi services. The aviation regulator of the UAE has authorised a significant certification program for Archer Aviation’s electric aircraft.

On 7th May, the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) approved California-based EVTOL manufacturer Archer Aviation’s flagship Midnight electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft into a Restricted Type Certificate (RTC) program, paving the way for the regulatory path for the aircraft’s entry into service in the country. Though it did not mention if those operations would include passenger flights or when exactly they might commence.

The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) was established in 1996 as the national regulatory authority for civil aviation in the UAE.

According to the company, this decision has made Archer the first electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) manufacturer to transition to an RTC certification track with the GCAA. It has beaten out Joby and other rivals looking to operate in the region. The program follows an airworthiness process that aligns with the international aviation standards and is created to enable companies to introduce advanced aircraft into service under regulated commercial requirements.

The RTC program also ensures that Midnight is developed under a regulatory baseline that sustains long-term commercial viability in the country.

The company mentioned that the process began for GCAA Design Organization Approval (DOA), which is equivalent to the FAA’s Organisation Designation Authorisation (ODA) and Delegation Option Authorisation (DOA) processes, and Production Organization Approval (POA). In the U.S., manufacturers must obtain type certification before the FAA authorises production of the new aircraft type.

The Archer has plans to launch its flying taxi services in the UAE capital this year. It is also set to release earnings on Monday, May 11, next week. This milestone was achieved after several years of technical partnership between the GCAA and Archer, including multiple on-site assessments by experts at Archer’s headquarters and flight test facilities in the United States of America, as well as in-country flights with Midnight.

The company is also progressing through the US Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) certification process for Midnight. Earlier this year, Archer announced that the FAA had accepted the aircraft’s “Means of Compliance” (MOC), a major technical milestone in the aircraft certification process.

The MOC can be viewed as a thorough technical document that details the approach a corporation will take to ensure the safety of the aircraft, and if the FAA approves the MOC which implies that the regulator is satisfied with the test methods and demonstrations used are legitimate means of proving safety and allows the corporation to conduct tests recognized by the FAA; as stated by Archer, the company is currently conducting thorough tests and certification campaigns with the FAA, although it does not have FAA Type Certification yet, which is the last step before commercial operation.

In November last year, one of the manufacturer’s rivals, Joby Aviation, discussed a GCAA qualification program for its own air taxi. Joby said the program would authorise it to start noncommercial passenger-carrying operations in the UAE before acquiring type certification in the U.S. It is not exactly clear whether Archer’s arrangement has a similar structure.

The GCAA had earlier told the Gulf News that it would be following FAA guidelines but would modify some regulations as per operational needs in the UAE, while Archer, on the other hand, pointed out that its timeline for launching in the UAE was not wholly contingent upon obtaining FAA approval, as it had already been issued FAA operational certifications like the Part 135 Air Carrier & Operator Certificate, the Part 145 Repair Station Certification, and the Part 141 Flight Training Certification.

The program is backed by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) as part of its plan to make Abu Dhabi a global hub of the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries (SAVI).

Another key element of this advanced regulatory phase involves the creation of the DOA and POA by the GCAA, which reflects considerable confidence in Archer’s design and safety management processes.

Assistant Director General of the Aviation Safety Affairs Sector at the GCAA, Eng. Aqeel Al Zarooni mentioned the GCAA is committed to safely incorporating innovative aviation technologies into the UAE airspace.

Archer and the GCAA have made progress across eight workstreams critical to commercial readiness with the help of the program, including aircraft certification, operations, maintenance, flight crew training, airspace, vertiports, security, and oversight.

Midnight is planned to enter service in Abu Dhabi with Abu Dhabi Aviation, Archer’s local operating partner, one of the region’s leading aviation companies and also one of the region’s largest helicopter operators. Its other Launch Edition customers who will fly the first operational Midnight aircraft include Ethiopia’s Ethiopian Airlines and Indonesia’s PT IKN.

Mahmood Al Hameli, Group CEO of Abu Dhabi Aviation, said this achievement reflects Abu Dhabi Aviation’s confidence in the UAE’s aviation ecosystem and Abu Dhabi’s willingness to embrace practical innovation.

He further said that it strengthens the commitment to support the safe and responsible rollout of advanced air mobility systems, opening new opportunities for connectivity, operational efficiency, and sustainable economic growth across the UAE.

The country has been one of the most forward-leaning markets in the world for advanced aviation, and the GCAA has been a strong, cooperative partner throughout this strategy. Advancing Midnight into this RTC program is a prominent step toward getting electric air taxis to the UAE, said Adam Goldstein, founder and CEO of Archer.