Archer Aviation advances air taxi service in UAE
Archer has moved closer to launching commercial air taxi services in the UAE after securing entry into the country’s new Restricted Type Certificate programme for its Midnight eVTOL aircraft
ATT Desk Report
Archer Aviation has moved a step closer to launching air taxi operations in the UAE after the country’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) introduced a new certification route for the company’s Midnight electric aircraft, reports the Gulf News.
The company announced late Thursday that its Midnight air taxi has entered the Restricted Type Certificate (RTC) programme in the UAE. The RTC is a special regulatory pathway created by the GCAA that allows aircraft to begin limited or restricted commercial operations before obtaining full certification.
According to Archer and the GCAA, the programme is designed around existing international aviation standards and is meant to support the early deployment of the aircraft in the UAE. Archer plans to operate the Midnight aircraft in Abu Dhabi in partnership with Abu Dhabi Aviation.
At the same time, Archer continues to work through the certification process with the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). In January 2026, the company said the FAA had approved the aircraft’s “Means of Compliance” (MOC), an important technical step toward full certification.
The UAE is also building its own regulatory framework for electric air taxis while tracking developments in the FAA approval process.
Archer has already received several FAA operational certifications, including:
• Part 135 Air Carrier & Operator Certificate
• Part 145 Repair Station Certification
• Part 141 Flight Training Certification
These approvals relate to areas such as commercial operations, maintenance, and pilot training, although they do not substitute for full aircraft type certification.
