BATOOL GHAITH (ABU DHABI)
With its dynamic innovation ecosystem and the forward-looking stance of national aviation authorities, Abu Dhabi has positioned itself as a key hub for advancing autonomous electric air taxi operations, said Nikhil Goel, Chief Commercial Officer at Archer Aviation, a US-based company developing electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
Speaking to Aletihad on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Summit, the opening event of the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week, Goel outlined the company's growing engagement in the UAE's innovation ecosystem.
"The leadership of the country has established a vision to make the UAE one of the most innovative places on earth, and they have really stayed true to that vision," Goel said.
He said that the Abu Dhabi Investment Office led by Badr Al-Olama is positioning Abu Dhabi at the forefront of urban air mobility, and "they have followed through on that promise".
Goel noted that Abu Dhabi's comprehensive support system has enabled Archer to move quickly to the region.
"Everything from infrastructure to the regulators have aligned to make this vision a reality, which has enabled us to bring air taxis here to the country and slowly scale that technology over time," he added.
Goel also emphasised the crucial role played by national aviation authorities in accelerating progress.
"The regulators are very important. The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), which is the Federal Aviation Regulator, has been very forward leaning. We spent years working hand in hand with them to understand what that expedited path to market looks like, and the GCAA is really pioneering that," he explained.
"The amount of progress that has been made since the first DRIFTx is spectacular. The first one was the government's opportunity to establish this vision and bring all the stakeholders together. This summit is about showing all the progress," he added.
According to Goel, public perception of autonomous aviation is also evolving with more people becoming excited about what electric air taxis offer.
"I think over time, you will see us do more public flight demonstrations, and start to put passengers into the aircraft. And I think that is when you really see people start to understand the magic of being able to fly around their own city."