The Special Airworthiness Certificate clears Archer to begin hover flight testing of its Maker aircraft
- After receiving its MIDO Certificate of Authorization (COA) and Aircraft Limitations from the FAA a few weeks ago, Archer has now achieved another key milestone as it progresses toward Maker’s first flight
- The special airworthiness certificate signals that Maker has successfully met all FAA safety requirements to begin off-ground operations
- This moment is a significant step forward in Archer’s overall certification timeline and serves as a key enabler for the company’s mission to launch its first commercial eVTOL flights in 2024
PALO ALTO, CA, December 2, 2021 - Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE: ACHR) today announced it has received a Special Airworthiness Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) covering its Maker demonstrator aircraft. The Special Airworthiness Certificate authorizes Archer to begin flight testing its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) Maker aircraft. Having cleared this final threshold to begin off-ground operations, Archer remains on track to conduct its first hover flight test later this year.
Archer has worked hard to maintain a collaborative and transparent relationship with the FAA through the Administration’s Center for Emerging Concepts & Innovation and the Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office throughout the certification process. This latest milestone follows Archer receiving its FAA G-1 Issue Paper: Certification Basis ("G-1 Certification Basis") in September.
The FAA’s inspection of Archer’s Maker aircraft was held at the company’s California flight test facility, where Maker is undergoing final preparations for its first flight, as well as extensive safety testing. As part of its formal inspection, the FAA conducted a comprehensive review of Maker to confirm the aircraft adheres to the Administration’s safety standards. Following its inspection, the FAA issued Archer its Special Airworthiness Certificate, signaling Maker is safe to leave the ground and Archer may begin hover test flights with the aircraft.
“Earning our Special Airworthiness Certificate from the FAA marks a significant moment for our company as we take another leap ahead toward our goal of bringing eVTOL travel to the world,” said Brett Adcock, Archer co-founder and co-CEO. “We’re glad to share a commitment with the FAA to create urgently-needed air transportation solutions. We’re grateful to have developed a strong relationship with their Center for Emerging Concepts & Innovation as we continue to work to ensure our eVTOL aircraft adheres to the highest standards of safety and compliance. In a year of exciting milestones for Archer, this moment serves as a key validator for the incredible work our team is doing to transform our vision for urban air mobility into a reality.”
“Our team has been working tirelessly toward this moment, and it’s a testament to their effort and dedication that we’ve successfully completed the formal inspection of Maker and received our Special Airworthiness Certificate, the latest in a series of certification milestones,” said Adam Goldstein, Archer co-founder and co-CEO. “We’ve demonstrated the quality and viability of our eVTOL aircraft while maintaining our commitment to safety above all else, and we now turn our focus toward the first flight tests of Maker. We look forward to sharing more exciting achievements in the near future.”
Continue to follow along with Archer’s journey via www.archer.com.
About Archer
Archer’s mission is to advance the benefits of sustainable air mobility. Archer’s goal is to move people throughout the world's cities in a quick, safe, sustainable, and cost-effective manner. Archer is designing and developing electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for use in urban air mobility. Archer's team is based in Palo Alto, CA. To learn more, visit www.archer.com.
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