FutureFlight
Archer Recruits Engineers from Collapsed Supersonic Aircraft Company Aerion
More than 20 experienced aviation engineers are moving from defunct supersonic aircraft developer Aerion to eVTOL pioneer Archer, which is working to bring a four-passenger aircraft into commercial service by 2024.
Archer Maker
Archer, which recently unveiled its Maker eVTOL technology demonstrator, has recruited engineers formerly with supersonic aircraft developer Aerion. (Image: Archer)

More than 20 engineers from supersonic aircraft developer Aerion have moved to Archer to support the California-based company's efforts to bring a four-passenger eVTOL aircraft to market by 2024. Aerion collapsed on May 21 after failing to raise the new investment needed for its ambitious plans to develop the AS2 business jet and the larger AS3 airliner. More than 200 jobs were lost when the company abruptly closed its doors.

Among the cohort of talent recruited from Aerion are the following specialists: head of interiors Alessandra D’Ambrosia-Furman, electromagnetic effects lead Ed Barnes, principal flight controls engineer Jonhyeob Shin, head of systems engineering and systems safety Pedro Carleial, and aerodynamics test engineer Mike Kerho. Archer said the new recruits will boost its capability in areas such as fly-by-wire controls, flight dynamics, systems engineering, system safety, avionics, power systems, and electromagnetic effects.