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Archer, a key player in the air taxi industry, has recently announced potential routes for its services in New York City. The company’s Midnight aircraft aims to transport passengers from Manhattan to JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark airports in just five to fifteen minutes, thereby reducing typical driving times by an hour or more. However, no specific start date for the service has been disclosed, and regulatory challenges, particularly from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), may pose obstacles.
It’s important to note that despite the excitement surrounding air taxis, no such services are currently operational. Startups have been pursuing this goal for over a decade. Nevertheless, Archer has formed partnerships with established aviation firms and other businesses, including Fiat Chrysler, United Airlines, and fixed base operators (FBOs) like Signature Aviation and Atlantic Aviation. The company also has plans for air taxi networks in cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
Archer envisions a model where air taxi rides can be booked as an “add-on” to traditional flights. Passengers would depart from existing facilities in Manhattan, particularly the East 34th Street Heliport, Downtown Skyport, and West 30th Street Heliport. From there, they could arrive at “vertiports” located at JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark airports, as well as at regional airport locations. The flights would utilize Archer’s human-piloted, four-passenger Midnight aircraft, which is equipped with 12 rotors, six batteries, and has a range of 20-50 miles.
Archer has garnered support from United Airlines, New York’s Port Authority, and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC). Nevertheless, key details such as the number of daily flights and operational hours remain undisclosed—information that the FAA will find essential to determine the safety of the service for passengers, other aircraft, and individuals on the ground.
This undertaking may require substantial time and financial investment. Archer’s VTOL aircraft has yet to secure the FAA type certification essential for operational clearance. However, the company has received the FAA’s final airworthiness criteria, making it one of only two air taxi companies achieving that milestone, alongside its competitor Joby Aviation. EHang, from China’s Civil Aviation Administration (CAAC), is the only air taxi company to have obtained type certification from an aviation regulator.
Entering the air taxi market is a risky endeavor for startups as well. Late last year, Archer’s competitor, Lilium, halted operations and laid off 1,000 employees, despite having completed successful flight tests.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/archer-outlines-its-plan-to-use-air-taxis-between-new-yorks-major-airports-123024903.html?src=rss
