- Electric planemaker Archer Aviation is one of the most promising eVTOL startups in the US.
- Overseeing safety is the former acting head of the Federal Aviation Administration, Billy Nolen.
- His appointment comes ahead of Archer’s upcoming Midnight eVTOL, which United plans to fly.
One of the highest authorities on aircraft safety in the US just placed his bets on startup electric planemaker Archer Aviation, representing how close the world could be to this new era of air travel.
In June, former acting head of the Federal Aviation Administration, Billy Nolen, stepped away from the regulator to become Archer’s chief safety officer.
While it sounds like mundane news, it actually appears to be a big endorsement for both Archer and the eVTOL market as Nolen has decades of flight experience and likely could have gone to almost any established airline or manufacturer. eVTOL stands for electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle.
Plus, he helped write the framework for eVTOL certification and came up with the FAA program “Innovate 28,” which hopes to see thousands of electric aircraft flying throughout the US by the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Fortunately for Archer, that means it is likely now a few steps ahead of the competition: “I don’t sign up for losing teams,” Nolen told Insider at the Paris Air Show in June.
Archer has already produced a full-sized mockup of its upcoming eVTOL known as Midnight, which Nolen said is still on track to start commercial flights in early 2025 despite some regulatory hiccups.
Insider toured the aircraft in Paris to learn more. Take a look:
Related Post
- Electric planemaker Archer Aviation is one of the most promising eVTOL startups in the US.
- Overseeing safety is the former acting head of the Federal Aviation Administration, Billy Nolen.
- His appointment comes ahead of Archer’s upcoming Midnight eVTOL, which United plans to fly.
One of the highest authorities on aircraft safety in the US just placed his bets on startup electric planemaker Archer Aviation, representing how close the world could be to this new era of air travel.
In June, former acting head of the Federal Aviation Administration, Billy Nolen, stepped away from the regulator to become Archer’s chief safety officer.
While it sounds like mundane news, it actually appears to be a big endorsement for both Archer and the eVTOL market as Nolen has decades of flight experience and likely could have gone to almost any established airline or manufacturer. eVTOL stands for electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle.
Plus, he helped write the framework for eVTOL certification and came up with the FAA program “Innovate 28,” which hopes to see thousands of electric aircraft flying throughout the US by the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Fortunately for Archer, that means it is likely now a few steps ahead of the competition: “I don’t sign up for losing teams,” Nolen told Insider at the Paris Air Show in June.
Archer has already produced a full-sized mockup of its upcoming eVTOL known as Midnight, which Nolen said is still on track to start commercial flights in early 2025 despite some regulatory hiccups.
Insider toured the aircraft in Paris to learn more. Take a look:
