Two Minutes to Midnight

Archer Aviation, the California-based designer of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, announced on 13 June 2023 that former FAA Administrator Billy Nolen had been named the company’s Chief Safety Officer.

Mr. Nolen’s expertise in matters of flight operations and aviation safety promises to better Archer’s chances of successfully commercializing Urban Air Mobility (UAM) at scale.

Archer founder and CEO Adam Goldstein stated: “Billy is an incredible leader and has long been a staunch supporter of the eVTOL aircraft industry, spearheading our country’s and the FAA’s global leadership role in this important area. Together, we will shape the future of transportation and make sustainable, efficient air travel a reality.”

During his stint with the FAA, Mr. Nolen spearheaded the agency’s efforts to facilitate the safe integration of eVTOL aircraft into the United States’ National Airspace System (NAS). In his new position, Nolen—an advocate of the eVTOL aircraft industry—will play a leadership role in helping Archer more effectively collaborate with industry stakeholders, thereby assuring the safe entry into service of the company’s aircraft.

Mr. Nolen set forth: “I’m honored to join Archer Aviation, a true visionary at the forefront of revolutionizing urban air mobility. The commercialization of eVTOL aircraft is no longer a question of if, but rather when, and after careful consideration and assessing the competitive landscape, I joined Archer because I believe its approach to designing for certification and only developing the key enabling technologies necessary for eVTOL aircraft is the right recipe for success.”

Nolen added: “I’m excited to bring my expertise as a former FAA Administrator to Archer and believe its dedication to safety, innovation, and commercialization aligns perfectly with my own values and aspirations.”

Billy Nolen is a former U.S. Army fixed-wing aircraft and helicopter pilot. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in professional aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and specialized aviation safety management certificates from the University of Southern California, U.S. Army Safety Center, and the U.S. Navy Postgraduate School. He is a member of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

Mr. Nolen joined American Airlines in 1989. Over the following 26-years, he served the air-carrier in both line-pilot and safety program manager capacities. Mr. Nolen holds type ratings in Boeing’s 757/767 and McDonnell Douglas’s MD-80.

In 2015, Nolen took a position with Airlines for America (A4A), serving as the organization’s senior vice-president of safety, security, and operations until 2018, when he joined Qantas Group as executive manager for group safety and health. Nolen left Qantas in February 2020 and journeyed to Calgary, where he joined WestJet, serving as the air-carrier’s vice-president of safety, security, and quality.

In December 2021, Mr. Nolen threw-in with the FAA, taking over as the agency’s associate administrator for aviation safety—a position in which he effectively assumed responsibility for the safe operation of more than one-million registered aircraft, upwards of one-million active pilots, thousands of approved manufacturers, and over fifty-thousand daily flights.

On 16 February 2022, then FAA Administrator Stephen Dickson announced he would resign from the post effective 31 March. On 26 March, the FAA announced Nolen had been named the agency’s Acting Administrator pending the nomination of a permanent successor to the office.

During his April 2022 to June 2023 tenure as the FAA’s Acting Administrator, Nolen oversaw certification reform and the implementation of new safety management systems at U.S. airports.

All told, Mr. Nolen has garnered north of 33-years of experience in aircraft operations, corporate safety, and regulatory affairs. That he will prove a valuable asset to Archer and an effective agent of the company’s ambitions is a safe bet. Very.

FMI: www.archer.com