Archer Flies Midnight eVTOL Aircraft Prototype in Abu Dhabi

Archer Aviation has begun test flights with its Midnight eVTOL prototype at Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi, marking its first flights outside the U.S., the California-based aircraft manufacturer announced on July 2. Flight test operations in the UAE will focus on evaluating the aircraft’s performance in hot, humid, and dusty conditions, where temperatures were close to 100-deg F this week.

“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.,” said Archer CEO Adam Goldstein.

Archer has been flight-testing the first example of its Midnight aircraft in California since 2023, starting with remotely piloted flights. Piloted flights began there last month, but the company used an uncrewed Midnight test aircraft for the first flights in Abu Dhabi. The piloted, four-passenger eVTOL air taxi is expected to enter commercial service in the UAE early next year, according to Archer, and the aircraft will be operated by Abu Dhabi Aviation through the manufacturer's Launch Edition program.

The first test flight was watched by senior officials from the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority, the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), the Integrated Transport Centre, Abu Dhabi Aviation, and Abu Dhabi Airports. UAE authorities recently approved a design for a hybrid heliport with the Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal at the emirate's Zayed Port.

“This flight marks a significant step toward realizing Abu Dhabi’s ambition to lead the world in advanced urban air mobility,” said H.E. Badr Al-Olama, director general of the ADIO. “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.”

eVTOL Rival Flies in Dubai

Midnight’s debut flight in Abu Dhabi arrived on the heels of Joby Aviation’s first flight in Dubai, which the rival eVTOL manufacturer announced on June 30. Joby plans to launch commercial air taxi services in Dubai next year.

According to Joby, its JAS4-1 eVTOL air taxi completed several flights in Dubai with a pilot on board. Those sorties included transition flights, in which the eVTOL aircraft transitions to fully wingborne cruise flight and no longer relies on the vertical lift propellers. 

“The United Arab Emirates is a launchpad for a global revolution in how we move,” said Joby founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt. “In addition to building a performant aircraft, we’ve also been maturing our program for anticipated passenger service with global operational capabilities and scalable, durable manufacturing.”