Today's Edition
BATOOL GHAITH (ABU DHABI)
A handful of Archer Aviation’s flying taxis could soon be taking to the skies in the UAE - and that will be just the beginning. The company’s UAE lead envisions hundreds of electric air taxis being deployed over the next decade.
“Our vision is to replace 60 to 90-minute car journeys with 10 to 20-minute electric air taxi trips,” Dr. Talib Alhinai, General Manager of Archer Aviation in the UAE, told Aletihad during GITEX Global.
As the country accelerates its transition toward smart and sustainable mobility, Archer Aviation is preparing to launch its fully electric flying taxis across the Emirates.
The company has already launched its experimental flight test programme in the UAE. In July, Archer completed its first urban test flight in Abu Dhabi, flying its electric air taxi with the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque as a scenic backdrop.
“We are continuing our flight test efforts both in the United States and here in the UAE, and we hope to begin passenger operations early next year,” Dr Alhinai said.
Abu Dhabi will serve as the company’s first launch market, he added. “We are working with our partners, Abu Dhabi Aviation, with the support of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office.”
Air taxi fares will vary depending on the operator’s cost base and the route, Dr Alhinai said. “Our estimates put it at about the cost of an Uber Black per passenger mile. We expect this cost to come down as we deploy more vehicles and scale further.”
“Bringing air taxis into reality involves challenges inherent in pioneering new technology, especially within the public transport sector. Certification remains the most critical milestone,” he said.
“Establishing a regulatory pathway that allows us to safely operate in the UAE is key. We are working very closely with the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority on establishing that framework so our aircraft can be certified to fly in the country,” Dr Alhinai said.
Preparing the infrastructure is another key priority. “We already started working on it along with pilot training. There are six or seven other work streams that are equally critical, but certification is the most important one,” he said.
Meet Midnight
The fully electric Midnight aircraft is what Archer is taking to UAE skies. They are powered by lithium-ion batteries, which means they are sustainable by design and rechargeable, Dr Alhinai said.
“Our aircraft have been designed to be less costly, more environmentally friendly, and less noisy. The Midnight aircraft is meant to be more attractive than conventional helicopters, which are noisier and rely on internal combustion engines,” he added.
