Air taxi services are set to debut in the UAE by 2025. This year, US-based Archer Aviation has successfully completed over 400 test flights of its 'Midnight' model in anticipation of its launch next year. The company, designated to operate these taxis, achieved 402 test flights within the first eight months, exceeding its 400-flight target four months before the planned schedule for 2024.
Earlier this year, Archer entered into agreements with UAE companies to construct vertiports, manufacture Midnight aircraft in Abu Dhabi, and establish a regional headquarters in the UAE in preparation for the introduction of air taxis in 2025. The Midnight, capable of accommodating four passengers plus a pilot, will cut travel time between Dubai and Abu Dhabi from 60-90 minutes to just 10-20 minutes. The fare for a trip between Dubai and Abu Dhabi is expected to range between Dh800 and Dh1,500, with intra-Dubai rides costing approximately Dh350.
In mid-August, Archer Aviation delivered its first aircraft to the US Air Force for evaluation. "When we initially aimed for 400 flights this year, it was considered ambitious... I am proud of the Archer flight test team and the supporting groups that made this achievement possible," stated Adam Goldstein, CEO and founder of Archer. Each flight generates crucial data used to assess and refine aspects such as aircraft loads, vibrations, performance, and handling qualities.
Archer has concentrated on several critical testing areas, including extended-distance and higher-speed transition flights to collect data, enhance endurance, and ensure maximum safety; increasing daily flight frequency to mimic the anticipated high operational tempo and test Midnight's durability; executing a series of hover landings under various wind conditions and descent rates; and conducting hover operations with different microphone arrays to gather additional data for the Federal Aviation Authority in the US and to further evaluate and adjust Midnight's noise profile.
