FAA Issues Airworthiness Certificate, Clearing Archer's Maker eVTOL for Takeoff
Archer expects to conduct an initial hover flight with its two-seat Maker eVTOL technology demonstrator before the end of December as it aims to bring its larger four-passenger model to market in 2024.
Archer is moving closer to the first flight with its Maker eVTOL technology demonstrator, with the FAA this week issuing the required special airworthiness certificate in the experimental category to allow prototype testing to begin. An initial hover flight is expected to take place before year-end.
In early November, the start-up relocated the two-seat Maker from its Palo Alto, California development lab to an undisclosed site in the state. The FAA’s manufacturing inspection district office has previously issued the certificate of authorization and aircraft limitations, which are also required for the start of flight testing. FAA officials have since inspected the aircraft at the test site.
