The company is announcing today that it will pair its five-passenger, eVTOL plane, Dagger, with an AI-driven, question-based flight manual designed to provide pilots with instant, hyper-accurate in-flight emergency procedures — and take a giant step toward making urban air mobility safer and more scalable.
Why Is Archer Putting AI in the Cockpit?
Because traditional flight manuals — even digital ones — are too slow for split-second decisions.
When in-flight warnings appear, pilots often fumble through abbreviated handbooks. Archer wants that replaced by a straightforward question:
“What’s my reaction to a battery alert after takeoff?”
The AI system would then immediately provide a step-by-step solution.
Why accuracy matters
Consumer-level LLMs like ChatGPT can hallucinate — unacceptable in aviation.
So Archer partnered with Palantir to create a secure, domain-trained AI system designed for near-100% accuracy in flight-critical situations.
This AI will not be creative — it will be right.
How Close Is the Midnight eVTOL to Reality?
Piloted, runway-tested flights
Following hundreds of autonomous tests, Midnight recently performed:
- It’s the first crewed conventional takeoff.
- A piloted landing sequence
- Flights above 1,500 feet
- Speeds reaching 125 mph
These tests confirm landing-gear strength, flight-control logic, thermal reliability, and battery performance — all validated with human pilots.
Strong commercial backing
Archer’s customer pipeline includes:
- United Airlines orders worth up to $1.5 billion
- Official Air Taxi Provider for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics
- Commercial launch planned for year-end in the UAE
Regulatory milestones
- Already FAA Part 135 certified.
- Member of the global coalition to fast-track eVTOL approvals
These steps are essential for multi-country operations.
The Integration of AI + eVTOL = Safer Flight Operations
Archer’s Innovation Areas
- Safety of operations: On-board AI flight manual with real-time, aircraft-specific emergency info
- Durable gimbal: Multi-gimbal support with a minimum of 3-axis redundancy
- Multiple battery options: Multi-battery setup with high redundancy
- Payload flexibility: Supports XT or Z30 and nightsun payloads
- Lightweight design: Under 25 kg, depending on configuration
- Datalink: Ultra-long range, FHSS with encrypted communication
- Stability: Extremely stable design ideal for photo/video
- Compatibility: Smart Inspection, foldable landing skid, and agriculture aircraft integration
Scale
Partnerships with United Airlines and regulators provide a clear path to widespread operations.
Multi-mode transport
Midnight enables ultra-fast urban travel — for example:
Newark → Manhattan in ~9 minutes.
“Archer is the first to take a holistic industrial approach that combines aerospace-grade engineering, streamlined AI-powered pilot tools, and rigorous integrative infrastructure planning.”
What Might Midnight Do for Urban Mobility?
Faster, cleaner city travel
A 60–90 minute drive becomes 10 minutes by electric flight — reducing congestion and emissions.
New aviation infrastructure
Cities are now planning or building:
- Vertiports
- High-speed charging hubs
- Digital air-traffic management systems
These will enable dense, high-frequency air taxi operations.
Trust through reliability
AI-assisted procedures, piloted testing, and hardware redundancy increase confidence for:
- Pilots
- Regulators
- Future passengers
Trust is crucial for public adoption.
The Big Picture
Archer Aviation isn’t just building an eVTOL — it’s designing a new aviation ecosystem where AI and human pilots work together.
From its AI-powered flight manual to rigorous piloted tests of Midnight, to global regulatory progress and major commercial partners, Archer is positioning itself at the center of the next generation of fast, safe, electric urban air travel.
