Flying Taxis in UAE: Test Flights Set for Summer
Archer Aviation gears up for high-temperature trials ahead of commercial launch
- Publish date: Tuesday، 04 March 2025
Flying taxis are coming to the UAE, and test flights are set to begin this summer to assess the impact of extreme temperatures on the Midnight aircraft, according to Archer Aviation CEO Adam Goldstein.
Goldstein confirmed that the company will deliver its first aircraft to Abu Dhabi and begin testing under the country’s soaring summer temperatures.
“We’ll focus our efforts on testing it in high-temperature operations as conditions there can exceed 110 degrees during the day,” Goldstein said. “Fortunately, Midnight is designed to support this operating environment, including a Honeywell climate control system that maintains comfortable cabin temperatures.”
Following these tests, the company will conduct survey flights with limited passengers, moving closer to a full-scale commercial rollout.
Abu Dhabi to Be the First Flying Taxi Hub
Last week, Archer Aviation announced its 'Launch Edition' programme for the Midnight aircraft, with Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA) as its first customer. ADA plans to deploy an initial fleet of Midnight flying taxis, working alongside Archer on pilot training, flight operations, and community engagement.
The four-passenger, piloted aircraft is expected to cut travel times drastically—what used to take 60-90 minutes by car will now take just 10-30 minutes.
Goldstein also revealed that Archer is working closely with the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to fast-track approvals.
“Our progress in the UAE has catalysed further interest across the broader Middle East, Asia, and Africa,” he said. “We’ve finalised our project-specific certification plan with the GCAA and have already begun submitting compliance data for review.”
Using Existing Infrastructure for a Quick Rollout
Archer’s UAE expansion strategy involves leveraging existing infrastructure to minimise costs and speed up deployment.
“In the UAE, we have plans to launch a five-node per vertiport network in Abu Dhabi,” Goldstein said. “All of these will be leveraging existing infrastructure locations, allowing us to move really quickly.”
The country already has hundreds of helicopter landing sites, mainly in Abu Dhabi, which could be converted into vertiports for flying taxis.
Archer’s local partners, Abu Dhabi Aviation and Falcon Aviation, will help integrate the Midnight aircraft into current heliport networks, including locations at Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal, and Atlantis, The Palm.
“Our partner, Abu Dhabi Aviation, is the UAE's largest helicopter operator, and they already safely carry passengers to and from many of these locations today,” Goldstein explained.
First Aircraft Expected This Year
Archer plans to build up to 10 Midnight aircraft in 2024, with three dedicated to flight testing and the rest as launch edition models for early commercial deployment.
With advanced testing, government approvals, and strong local partnerships, the UAE is moving closer to making flying taxis a reality—so get ready to take to the skies soon! 🚁
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