Base Of Operations And Testbed For AI-Powered Aviation Tech

Archer Aviation announced it has executed agreements to acquire control of the Jack Northrop/Hawthorne Municipal Airport (KHHR) in California for $126 million in cash. The company plans to utilize the site as a base of operations for its planned Los Angeles air taxi network and also as a test facility for AI-based aviation technologies.

The 80-acre airport is located about three miles from Los Angeles International Airport (KLAX) and is within minutes of the city’s downtown, SoFi Stadium, The Forum, and Intuit Dome. The property has about 190,000 square feet of terminal, hangar, and office space.

The deal is subject to regulatory approval from the City of Hawthorne and the usual closing conditions.

Archer intends to make the airport its primary hub for commercial eVTOL air taxi operations in the Los Angeles area, and this will include service during the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games slated to take place in LA. The company will use its Midnight eVTOL aircraft for the commercial service.

The company will also use the site for the development and demonstration of AI-powered air traffic and ground operations management systems currently being designed with technology and tech partners.

Archer said in it announcement, “This acquisition gives Archer a one-of-a-kind aviation asset in the heart of Los Angeles. The facility will support our goal of bringing safe, quiet, and sustainable air mobility to one of the world’s most complex urban airspaces.”

United Airlines, an early investor in Archer, praised the deal, with Michael Leskinen, Chief Financial Officer for United, said in a statement,  “Archer’s trajectory validates our conviction that eVTOLs are part of the next generation of air traffic technology that will fundamentally reshape aviation. Their vision for an AI-enabled operations platform isn’t just about eVTOLs — it’s about leveraging technology to move people safely and efficiently in our most congested airspaces.”

FMI:  www.archer.com/