The tentative timeline for Archer Aviation to receive certification for its Midnight aircraft is as follows:
- Special Airworthiness Certificate: Archer has already received the Special Airworthiness Certificate for Midnight from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on August 16, 20231. This certificate allows Midnight to begin flight test operations.
- Certification Plans Approval: The FAA has started approving Archer’s certification plans for Midnight’s production aircraft, which is expected to pave the way for piloted “for credit” testing in early 20241.
- Transition Flight Milestone: Midnight successfully performed a "transition flight" on June 8, 2024, which is a significant milestone towards Type Certification2. This flight involved taking off vertically, accelerating forward, transitioning to wing-borne flight with tilt propellers, and landing vertically.
- Final Airworthiness Criteria: The FAA has issued the final airworthiness criteria for Midnight, which is a critical step towards achieving Type Certification3. This milestone allows Archer to continue ramping up its “for credit” testing with the FAA.
- Expected Piloted Flight Testing: Piloted flight testing for Midnight is expected to begin by the end of 202423.
In summary, Archer Aviation is on track to receive full certification for its Midnight aircraft by the end of 2024, with piloted flight testing set to commence by the same timeframe.
10/14/2024 05:24pm
