Californian company Archer Aviation, which produces electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, will begin delivering its futuristic air taxis to Japan. The $500 million deal will provide 100 Midnight electric aircraft to Soracle, a joint venture between Japan Airlines and Sumitomo Corporation. Soracle plans to use air taxis in cities where “existing ground transportation is limited by traffic or geographic barriers”
Image source: Archer Aviation
Archer Aviation will work with Soracle and the Japanese Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) to obtain the necessary permits and certifications. The company has already received an air carrier certificate from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which is required to operate as an air taxi service. Archer Aviation is currently seeking type approval and a certificate of airworthiness for its Midnight air taxi, which will ensure the electric aircraft meets all FAA design and safety standards.
Midnight is an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft designed for a pilot and four passengers.
The maximum flight range is about 160 km, the preferred operating mode is flights over a distance of 30–80 km with minimal charging time between them. The maximum speed of the electric aircraft is 241 km/h.
The rotors allow Midnight to take off and land vertically, like a helicopter, and then transition into horizontal flight, like an airplane.
Archer Aviation made a big splash in the spring of 2020, luring key talent from Wisk (formerly Kitty Hawk) and the Airbus Vahana project. Wisk even filed a lawsuit for theft of trade secrets, which was finally settled only at the end of last year. Today, the company has a $1 billion order from United Airlines and a partnership agreement for mass production of electric aircraft with global automaker Stellantis.
Other eVTOL companies also expect to eventually receive FAA approval. That task became easier a few weeks ago when the agency published its long-awaited final rule for eVTOL vehicles. These rules, according to an agency spokesman, “will pave the way for the air travel of the future.” Archer Aviation praised the FAA’s initiative, noting it “provides clear guidance for the safe operation of eVTOLs in the United States.”
In addition to Archer Aviation, companies such as Joby Aviation, Volocopter and Beta Technologies have said they are on the cusp of launching air taxi services with an eye on further scaling the service globally. At the same time, some players have already withdrawn from the race – for example, the German company Lilium recently announced the cessation of activities of two of its subsidiaries.