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Soon after receiving its MIDO Certificate of Authorization (COA) and Aircraft Limitations, Archer Aviation Inc. (Palo Alto, Calif., U.S.) has received a Special Airworthiness Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) covering its Maker demonstrator electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, which authorizes Archer to begin flight testing it. Having cleared this final threshold to begin off-ground operations, Archer remains on track to conduct its first hover flight test later this year. 

Archer reports that it has worked hard to maintain a collaborative and transparent relationship with the FAA through the Administration’s Center for Emerging Concepts & Innovation and the Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office throughout the certification process. This latest milestone follows Archer receiving its  in September.

“Earning our Special Airworthiness Certificate from the FAA marks a significant moment for our company as we take another leap ahead toward our goal of bringing eVTOL travel to the world,” says Brett Adcock, Archer co-founder and co-CEO. “We’re glad to share a commitment with the FAA to create urgently needed air transportation solutions. We’re grateful to have developed a strong relationship with their Center for Emerging Concepts & Innovation as we continue to work to ensure our eVTOL aircraft adheres to the highest standards of safety and compliance.”

The FAA’s inspection of Archer’s Maker aircraft was held at the company’s California flight test facility, where Maker is undergoing final preparations for its first flight, as well as extensive safety testing. As part of its formal inspection, the FAA conducted a comprehensive review of Maker to confirm the aircraft adheres to the Administration’s safety standards. Following its inspection, the FAA issued Archer its Special Airworthiness Certificate, signaling Maker is safe to leave the ground and Archer may begin hover test flights with the aircraft.

“Our team has been working tirelessly toward this moment, and it’s a testament to their effort and dedication that we’ve successfully completed the formal inspection of Maker and received our Special Airworthiness Certificate, the latest in a series of certification milestones,” adds Adam Goldstein, Archer co-founder and co-CEO. “We’ve demonstrated the quality and viability of our eVTOL aircraft while maintaining our commitment to safety above all else, and we now turn our focus toward the first flight tests of Maker. We look forward to sharing more exciting achievements in the near future.”