Archer Aviation inks partnership with Etihad Training for Midnight aircraft pilot training

Archer Aviation has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Etihad Training for a partnership aimed at recruiting and training prospective pilots for Archer’s Midnight aircraft in Abu Dhabi, facilitating flights across the UAE. The MOU debut took place at the commencement of the Future Aviation Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, marking Archer’s inaugural showcase of its Midnight aircraft in the country.

“Training a fleet of pilots to operate our aircraft is a critically important part of our efforts to establish a thriving urban air mobility network in Abu Dhabi and the rest of the UAE, and Etihad Training is the premier organization to partner with on this front,” said Nikhil Goel, Archer’s Chief Commercial Officer. “As Etihad Training’s first eVTOL partner, we will commence a thoughtful recruiting process and begin to train the first class of qualified pilots to operate Archer’s Midnight aircraft for commercial operations within the region.”

Captain Paolo La Cava, CEO of Etihad Training, remarked, “Etihad Aviation Training today recruits and trains pilots to fly with dozens of global airlines. We couldn’t be more excited to choose Archer as our first eVTOL partner to recruit and train the first class of electric air taxi pilots to fly Archer’s Midnight aircraft right here in Abu Dhabi as soon as 2025. We look forward to installing the Archer Midnight flight simulator in our facilities later this year.”

As part of the planned collaboration, Archer intends to deliver a Midnight aircraft simulator to be housed and staffed by Etihad Training at its training centre in Abu Dhabi. This will aid in research and development of pilot training competencies, supporting the requisite regulatory certifications. Etihad Training will liaise with the GCAA to establish appropriate pilot training requirements in the UAE, all in support of safe and efficient operations of Archer’s aircraft.

Archer has been collaborating with various entities within Abu Dhabi and Dubai to expedite the operation of its air taxi services across the region. Today’s announcement marks another stride in the development of Archer’s infrastructure within the region.

In late April, Archer and ADIO signed an agreement accelerating Archer’s planned commercial air taxi operations in the UAE, slated to launch as early as next year. This encompasses in-country manufacturing, operations, and training across the region. This comprehensive agreement positions Abu Dhabi as one of the world’s leaders in promoting urban air mobility, with plans to commence air taxi operations with Archer’s Midnight aircraft as soon as next year.