Archer Midnight (Abu Dhabi)

About

The Archer Midnight is the all-electric piloted eVTOL aircraft developed by Archer Aviation of San Jose, California. The aircraft uses Archer's proprietary 12-tilt-6 configuration: twelve electric propellers arranged on a high wing, of which six are fully tilting (front, five-blade) and six are vertical-lift only (rear, two-blade, locked in minimum-drag position during cruise). The aircraft carries one pilot and four passengers, has an expected payload over 1,000 pounds, a top cruise speed of 150 mph (≈241 km/h) and a maximum range of approximately 100 miles, optimised for back-to-back 20-mile trips with about 10 minutes of charging between flights.

In Abu Dhabi the Midnight is being prepared for commercial service through Archer's Launch Edition programme, with Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA) as the first Launch Edition customer. The first UAE Midnight test flight was conducted at Al Bateen Executive Airport on 2 July 2025; an in-country campaign demonstrating Midnight's full eVTOL envelope was reported complete on 13 November 2025. The programme is coordinated under Abu Dhabi's Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), the GCAA, and Etihad Aviation Training (pilot training).

Key facts

Timeline

1. 2022-11-17
   Archer publicly unveils Midnight at its Open House in Palo Alto, California — pilot+4 passengers, 12-tilt-6 configuration, 150 mph cruise, 100-mile range, ≈45 dBA cruise noise. [archer-midnight-unveil-2022-11-17]
2. 2024
   Archer unveils Midnight 'Launch Edition' commercialisation programme; Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA) named first Launch Edition customer for Midnight deployment in the UAE. [archer-launch-edition-2024]
3. 2025-07-02
   First Midnight test flight in the UAE at Al Bateen Executive Airport, Abu Dhabi. Witnessed by senior leadership from the GCAA, Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), Integrated Transport Centre, Abu Dhabi Aviation and Abu Dhabi Airports. Supported by the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council (SASC). [archer-ir-2025-07-02]
4. 2025-10
   Archer hosts the GCAA at its San Jose, California HQ for a week-long working session to advance the UAE regulatory pathway. [archer-ir-2025-11-13]
5. 2025-11-13
   Archer announces completion of in-country eVTOL flight test campaign in the UAE — full eVTOL envelope demonstrated (vertical takeoff, transition and wingborne flight). Archer begins receiving payments under its definitive agreement with Abu Dhabi Aviation under the Launch Edition programme. [archer-ir-2025-11-13]
6. 2025-11-13
   Abu Dhabi announces development of an emirate-wide air taxi network of more than 10 vertiport sites under the Integrated Transport Centre. [archer-ir-2025-11-13]

Practical info

Regulatory status

The Archer Midnight is being qualified for UAE service through close coordination with the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), the Integrated Transport Centre, Abu Dhabi Aviation, and supported by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council (SASC). In October 2025 Archer hosted GCAA officials at its San Jose headquarters for a week-long working session to advance the UAE regulatory pathway. Archer has also reported regulatory design approval for the UAE's first hybrid heliport at the Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal. In the United States, Archer is pursuing FAA Type Certification of Midnight under Part 21.17(b) for the powered-lift category. The first piloted conventional-takeoff (CTOL) Midnight flight took place in early 2025; the in-country UAE campaign completed in November 2025 demonstrated the full eVTOL flight envelope.

Current progress

As of 13 November 2025, Archer reported successful completion of an in-country eVTOL flight test campaign in the UAE, demonstrating Midnight's full envelope including vertical takeoff, transition and wingborne flight in UAE-specific operating and environmental conditions. Archer began receiving payments under its definitive Launch Edition agreement with Abu Dhabi Aviation. The next phase of the programme covers continued GCAA certification work, pilot recruitment and training with Etihad Aviation Training, additional flight test operations with Abu Dhabi Aviation, and preparation for early-stage commercial operations in Abu Dhabi. A specific commercial launch date for Midnight in Abu Dhabi has not been published by Archer.

Connected entities

Frequently asked questions

Sources

1. [archer-midnight-unveil-2022-11-17] Archer Aviation IR — 'Archer Unveils its Production Aircraft, Midnight' (17 Nov 2022) operator-ir · accessed 2026-05-01
2. [archer-launch-edition-2024] Archer Aviation IR — 'Archer Unveils Midnight Launch Edition Commercialization Program with Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA) As First Customer' operator-ir · accessed 2026-05-01
3. [archer-ir-2025-07-02] Archer Aviation IR — 'Archer Begins Test Flights in Abu Dhabi' (2 Jul 2025) operator-ir · accessed 2026-05-01
4. [archer-ir-2025-11-13] Archer Aviation IR — 'Archer's Midnight Showcases In-Country eVTOL Flight Test Campaign in UAE as Part of Its Commercial Launch Edition Program' (13 Nov 2025) operator-ir · accessed 2026-05-01

Verification flags

• Specific Abu Dhabi commercial launch date not published by Archer.
• Number of Archer Midnight aircraft based in the UAE not published.
• Archer's published cruise noise figure (~45 dBA at ground when cruising at ~2,000 ft) is a design target stated at the November 2022 unveil; in-flight measured equivalent in UAE conditions has not been published.
• FAA Type Certification stage for Midnight as of latest IR not retrieved within session — flagged for follow-up.
• Wikimedia Commons direct URL for Archer Midnight not verified within session — hero_image set to null.
• Battery configuration: Archer's 17 Nov 2022 unveil and Honeywell partner article cite '6 independent battery packs' for 12 motors — the unveil press release itself emphasises 12-tilt-6 propeller configuration; battery-pack count carried via Honeywell technical brief, not used in primary specs.
• Range: Archer's primary unveil press release does not give a numerical maximum range; '100 miles' is consistently used in Archer-distributed and Archer-quoted communications. The 17 Nov 2022 release language is 'optimised for back-to-back 20-mile trips'.