ABU DHABI, 20 May 2025 (WAM) – Dr. Talib Alhinai, General Manager of Archer Aviation, announced that the company will initiate trial flights of its first fully electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, Midnight, before the end of 2025.

This announcement was made during the “Make it in the Emirates” forum, where Dr. Alhinai highlighted the aircraft’s role in advancing the UAE’s urban air mobility ambitions. He confirmed that operations would begin in Abu Dhabi, setting the stage for a broader commercial rollout in the future.

Archer Aviation has recently launched a manufacturing facility in Georgia, USA, with an annual production capacity of 650 aircraft. Plans are in place to scale this up to 2,400 units per year.

As part of its expansion strategy, the company has entered into a framework agreement with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office. This agreement outlines intentions to establish a research centre and explore the possibility of local manufacturing within the UAE. Additional details are expected to be revealed soon.

Midnight is designed for sustainable urban transport, featuring fully electric propulsion and vertical takeoff and landing capabilities. It accommodates four passengers and one pilot and is optimized for short-distance, intra-city flights.

Initial test flights are scheduled to take place in remote areas, with operations gradually moving into urban environments under a phased deployment strategy. While the specific launch date for commercial operations remains undetermined, it will be announced upon the completion of required technical and regulatory milestones.

Regarding technical specifications, Dr. Alhinai stated that Midnight is fitted with a fixed wing and twelve electric motors—six located at the front and six at the rear. The front motors are capable of tilting between 90 and 0 degrees, allowing the aircraft to transition from vertical to horizontal flight in approximately 45 seconds.