Archer is now seeking a Restricted Type Certificate (RTC) from the UAE GCAA for its Midnight eVTOL the company announced today. The company calls it “an established pathway for Archer to begin limited commercial operations.” though it is hard to understand how since according to the GCAA Part 21 regulation that covers the RTC the certification comes with limitations that effectively preclude commercial operation of an aircraft certified in the category. These include day VFR operations only, Flight path restrictions including no flight over built up areas and, critically, the carriage of passengers is generally forbidden.Nevertheless, Archer is, as always, bullish in their predictions for success. Despite the the twin handicaps of the ongoing conflict in the region combined with the salient point that Archer while the company has completed manned flights in the thrustborne and fully wingborne regimes the company is yet to fly an aircraft though the entire flight envelope including the all important transition flights. Company CEO Adam Goldstein said in the announcement of the new certification plan “The UAE has been one of the most forward-leaning markets in the world for advanced aviation, and the GCAA has been a strong, collaborative partner throughout this process. Advancing Midnight into this RTC program is a major step toward bringing electric air taxis to the UAE.”
Image: Archer