The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has transitioned Archer’s Midnight aircraft into a Restricted Type Certificate (RTC) program, advancing the regulatory pathway for the aircraft’s entry into service in the UAE.
This transition makes Archer the first eVTOL manufacturer to move to an RTC certification track with the GCAA, utilizing an airworthiness pathway aligned with international aviation frameworks. The program provides an established pathway for the aircraft to begin limited commercial operations while supporting long-term commercial viability within the UAE.
The move follows several years of technical collaboration between the regulator and the manufacturer. This partnership included multiple on-site inspections by GCAA experts at Archer’s headquarters and flight test facilities in the United States, alongside in-country flights with the Midnight aircraft. The Abu Dhabi Investment Office supported the initiative as part of its commitment to establishing Abu Dhabi as a leader in the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries (SAVI) cluster.
A cornerstone of this advanced regulatory phase is the initiation of a GCAA Design Organization Approval (DOA) and Production Organization Approval (POA). These designations signify a high degree of trust in Archer’s engineering and safety management systems. Through the RTC program, Archer and the GCAA have made progress across eight workstreams critical to commercial readiness, including aircraft certification, operations, maintenance, flight crew training, airspace, vertiports, security and oversight.
Eng. Aqeel Al Zarooni, Assistant Director General, Aviation Safety Affairs Sector at GCAA, commented, “The GCAA is committed to safely integrating innovative aviation technologies into the UAE airspace.”
Adam Goldstein, founder and CEO of Archer, added, “The UAE has been one of the most forward-leaning markets in the world for advanced aviation, and the GCAA has been a strong, collaborative partner throughout this process. Advancing Midnight into this RTC program is a major step toward bringing electric air taxis to the UAE.”
Midnight is planned to enter service in Abu Dhabi with Abu Dhabi Aviation, Archer’s local operating partner and one of the region’s leading aviation companies.
Mahmood Al Hameli, Group CEO of Abu Dhabi Aviation, said, “This milestone reflects Abu Dhabi Aviation’s confidence in the UAE’s aviation ecosystem and Abu Dhabi’s readiness to embrace practical innovation. It reinforces our commitment to supporting the safe and responsible rollout of advanced air mobility systems, unlocking new opportunities for connectivity, operational efficiency and sustainable economic growth across the Emirate.”
