Sun, Jul 06, 2025
Evaluations In UAE’s Desert Environment For Commercial Deployment
Air taxi developer Archer announced the successful first flight of its Midnight aircraft at Al Bateen Executive Airport (AZI/OMAD) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, representing the first test of the aircraft’s performance in the hot, humid, and dusty desert environment of the Gulf state where Archer plans to soon begin commercial deployment.
The flight was conducted with the support of the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council (SASC) and was observed by senior leaders of the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority, or GCAA, the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), the Integrated Transport Center, Abu Dhabi Aviation, and Abu Dhabi Airports.
Representatives from Archer’s regional partners also attended the flight that focused on evaluating the VTOL performance of Midnight in UAE-specific conditions that include high temperatures and humidity as well as dust exposure. This is the beginning of Archer’s evaluation of the aircraft’s readiness for commercial deployment.
H.E. Badr Al-Olama, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office commented, “This flight marks a significant step towards realizing Abu Dhabi’s ambition to lead the world in advanced urban air mobility.
“Through the Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industry (SAVI) Cluster, we are enabling companies like Archer to test, certify and scale next-generation air mobility solutions, reinforcing our position as a global launchpad for innovation and a hub for transformative technologies.”
Adam Goldstein, CEO and Founder of Archer Aviation said, “Our initial test flight operations in the UAE represent a critical milestone as we prepare for our commercial deployment in Abu Dhabi. Testing our aircraft in actual operating conditions in the middle of summer provides us with the data we need to progress our commercial and certification efforts both in the UAE and in the U.S.”
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