Archer Plans Starlink Connectivity for Midnight eVTOL Aircraft

Archer Aviation plans to equip its Midnight eVTOL air taxis with Starlink satcom terminals that will provide in-flight Wi-Fi for passengers and an aircraft-to-ground data link for operators, the company announced today. Under the agreement, Archer could be the first company to install and test SpaceX’s satellite internet system on a commercial eVTOL aircraft. 

In addition to Midnight, Archer said it will also work with Starlink on a connectivity solution for its “future development of autonomous aircraft.” While Archer has yet to reveal any specific plans for an autonomous air vehicle based on the Midnight aircraft, its electric propulsion system has been selected to power a defense drone being developed by its partner Anduril. 

Archer’s Midnight aircraft is designed to carry four passengers on five- to 15-minute flights across cities, cruising at altitudes between 1,500 and 4,000 feet. Starlink relies on a constellation of low-Earth-orbit satellites rather than ground towers or geostationary spacecraft, a configuration Archer said is suited to dense urban environments where cellular coverage can be inconsistent.

“Connectivity is a must-have feature for Midnight, [and] Starlink is uniquely built to deliver it," said Archer co-founder and CEO Adam Goldstein. “This industry-first collaboration will enable seamless, high-speed connectivity and essential amenities for our passengers and pilots.”