Latest news with #VTOL
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Startup demonstrates delivery of goods by large cargo in Tiruchi school
A large drone with a payload capacity of 6 kg, brought chocolates to a delighted audience of onlookers as it made a sortie during a demonstration organised at a city school on Saturday, heralding the evolution of aerial cargo delivery with a lower carbon footprint. The drone is said to be the largest of its kind in terms of payload capacity, and is launched by Amber Wings, an entity of The ePlane Company, the start-up incubated by the Indian Institute of Technology – Madras. The demonstration was part of the school's 'Role of Engineering in India's Growth and Development' programme. 'The day is not far when Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone flights will be technologically enabled to be operated routinely without any fear of security breaches. Once this happens, drone deliveries in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities will become commonplace, because these areas would constitute 'green zones' where they are permitted to fly,' Satyanarayanan R. Chakravarthy, founder of The ePlane Company and professor of Aerospace Engineering, IIT-M, told The Hindu. The academician is co-founder of Agnikul Cosmos. Mr. Chakravarthy said that drone applications in the civilian space for deliveries of essential commodities as well as e-commerce cargo are a growing field, especially in India. The company had debuted the 'Atva' Vertical Take off and Landing (VTOL) drone in 2023, with a 2 kg payload capacity, and 10,000 km of flights. 'This is the first time that we are bringing our larger model out of its laboratory conditions. It is still a prototype that has been in development for the past six months. We are all excited to see it perform well in an open setting,' said Mr. Chakravarthy. At yesterday's demonstration, all eyes were on the drone as it soared high with a speed of 100 km and passed a real bird in the sky without incident. The drone is powered by an onboard battery. Santhanam Vidyalaya chief executive officer K. Chandrasekharan spoke.
Arabian Business
03-07-2025
- Business
- Arabian Business
Archer Aviation completes first Midnight aircraft test flight in UAE
Archer Aviation has completed an initial flight of its Midnight aircraft at Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi. This marked a new milestone for its planned commercial deployment in the UAE and the expansion of its operations in the Middle East region. The Smart and Autonomous Systems Council (SASC) supported the flight, which was witnessed by leadership from the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), the Integrated Transport Centre, Abu Dhabi Aviation and Abu Dhabi Airports, along with representatives from Archer's regional partners. Archer Aviation advances UAE air mobility The test flight focused on evaluating the aircraft's vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) performance in UAE conditions including temperature, humidity and dust exposure. The flight allows Archer to validate readiness for commercial deployment. Following this milestone, Archer will expand its flight-testing programme for Midnight in the region, gathering data to support its certification and commercialisation plans in both the Emirates and other markets. 'This flight marks a significant step towards realising Abu Dhabi's ambition to lead the world in advanced urban air mobility. Through the Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industry (SAVI) Cluster, we are enabling companies like Archer to test, certify and scale next-generation air mobility solutions, reinforcing our position as a global launchpad for innovation and a hub for transformative technologies,' Badr Al-Olama, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office said. The test flight supports Archer's Launch Edition commercialisation programme with Abu Dhabi Aviation, which aims to establish air taxi services in Abu Dhabi. The announcement comes as Archer continues to advance its certification and commercialisation efforts in the UAE and beyond, building on achievements including regulatory design approval for the country's first hybrid heliport at Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal and ongoing partnerships with regional operators. 'Our initial test flight operations in the UAE represent a critical milestone as we prepare for our commercial deployment in Abu Dhabi. Testing our aircraft in actual operating conditions in the middle of summer provides us with the data we need to progress our commercial and certification efforts both in the UAE and in the US,' Adam Goldstein, CEO and Founder of Archer Aviation added. The Launch Edition programme represents Archer's approach to establishing commercial operations in early adopter markets. Abu Dhabi's role as Archer's first Launch Edition market positions the emirate as a leader in urban air mobility deployment, demonstrating Abu Dhabi's commitment to transport and mobility solutions.
Zawya
03-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Archer begins test flights in Abu Dhabi
Archer's flight test operations are focused on evaluating the aircraft's Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) performance in UAE-specific conditions, including high temperature, humidity and dust exposure in advance of commercial deployment Senior leadership from the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), the Integrated Transport Centre, Abu Dhabi Aviation and Abu Dhabi Airports attended the flight test, along with representatives from Archer's regional partners Abu Dhabi, UAE – Archer (NYSE: ACHR) today announced the successful completion of an initial flight of its Midnight aircraft at Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi, marking a key milestone for its planned commercial deployment in the UAE and the expansion of its operations in the Middle East region. With the support of the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council (SASC), the flight was witnessed by senior leadership from the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), the Integrated Transport Centre, Abu Dhabi Aviation and Abu Dhabi Airports, along with representatives from Archer's regional partners. Focused on evaluating the aircraft's VTOL performance in UAE-specific conditions including temperature, humidity and dust exposure, the test flight allows Archer to validate readiness for commercial deployment. Following this milestone, Archer will expand its flight-testing programme for Midnight in the region, gathering additional data to support its certification and commercialisation plans in both the UAE and other key markets. 'This flight marks a significant step towards realising Abu Dhabi's ambition to lead the world in advanced urban air mobility,' said H.E. Badr Al-Olama, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office. 'Through the Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industry (SAVI) Cluster, we are enabling companies like Archer to test, certify and scale next-generation air mobility solutions, reinforcing our position as a global launchpad for innovation and a hub for transformative technologies'. "Our initial test flight operations in the UAE represent a critical milestone as we prepare for our commercial deployment in Abu Dhabi," said Adam Goldstein, CEO and Founder of Archer Aviation. "Testing our aircraft in actual operating conditions in the middle of summer provides us with the data we need to progress our commercial and certification efforts both in the UAE and in the U.S." The test flight supports Archer's Launch Edition commercialisation programme with Abu Dhabi Aviation, which aims to establish air taxi services in Abu Dhabi. The announcement comes as Archer continues to advance its certification and commercialisation efforts in the UAE and beyond, building on recent achievements including regulatory design approval for the UAE's first hybrid heliport at Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal and ongoing partnerships with leading regional operators. The Launch Edition programme represents Archer's approach to establishing commercial operations in key early adopter markets. Abu Dhabi's role as Archer's first Launch Edition market positions the emirate as a global leader in urban air mobility deployment, demonstrating Abu Dhabi's commitment to innovative transport and sustainable mobility solutions. About Archer Archer is designing and developing the key enabling technologies and aircraft necessary to power the future of aviation. To learn more, visit Archer Media Contacts Tales and Heads (UAE) - archer@ Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward looking statements regarding Archer's future business plans and goals, including statements regarding the development, flight testing, commercialization, and certification of its aircraft and the plans for its 'Launch Edition' programme. In addition, this press release refers to a partnership that is conditioned on the future execution by the parties of additional binding definitive agreements incorporating the terms outlined in the memorandum of understanding, which definitive agreements may not be completed or may contain different terms than those set forth in the framework agreement. These forward-looking statements are only predictions and may differ materially from actual results due to a variety of factors. The risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from the results predicted are more fully detailed in Archer's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, available at In addition, please note that any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on assumptions that Archer believes to be reasonable as of the date of this press release. Archer undertakes no obligation to update these statements as a result of new information or future events. Source: Archer Text: ArcherIR About the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO): The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) is the government vehicle responsible for accelerating Abu Dhabi's growth and enabling the emirate's economic transformation. Through comprehensive support services, ADIO enables both local and foreign investors to shape industries of the future set to transform liveability, technology, resources, and value-added services. Initiatives focused on regional tourism and retail development, as well as public-private partnerships, ensure that community well-being is at the centre of Abu Dhabi's economic transformation. With a robust network of investors, strong collaboration with key stakeholders, and a global presence, ADIO is committed to empowering those who invest with Abu Dhabi to make a lasting global impact. For more information, visit: For more information, please contact: ADIO@
Economy ME
02-07-2025
- Automotive
- Economy ME
Abu Dhabi successfully completes first test flight of 'Midnight' flying taxi
Archer announced on Wednesday the successful completion of an initial flight of its Midnight flying taxi at Abu Dhabi's Al Bateen Executive Airport, marking a key milestone for its planned commercial deployment in the UAE and the expansion of its operations in the Middle East region. Abu Dhabi's latest milestone comes amid a major push in the UAE to advance tests, infrastructure and legislation in a bid to adopt advanced air mobility as soon as 2026. Earlier in the day, the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) issued the world's first regulatory framework for hybrid operations , enabling both flying taxis and conventional helicopters to operate interchangeably on the same infrastructure. By enabling dual-use between conventional helicopter pads and landing pads for flying taxis, this initiative helps accelerate the implementation timelines in the UAE, optimizes infrastructure utilization and cements the UAE's position as a leader in fostering an integrated ecosystem supporting the future of aviation. Archer seeks regional expansion following Abu Dhabi success With the support of the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council (SASC), Archer's test flight was witnessed by senior leadership from the UAE GCAA, the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), the Integrated Transport Center, Abu Dhabi Aviation and Abu Dhabi Airports, along with representatives from Archer's regional partners. Focused on evaluating the flying taxi's VTOL performance in UAE-specific conditions, including temperature, humidity and dust exposure, the test flight allows Archer to validate readiness for commercial deployment. Following this milestone in Abu Dhabi, Archer will expand its flight-testing program for the Midnight flying taxi in the region, gathering additional data to support its certification and commercialization plans in both the UAE and other key markets. 'This flight marks a significant step towards realizing Abu Dhabi's ambition to lead the world in advanced urban air mobility. Through the Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industry (SAVI) Cluster, we are enabling companies like Archer to test, certify and scale next-generation air mobility solutions, reinforcing our position as a global launchpad for innovation and a hub for transformative technologies,' said Badr Al-Olama, director general of ADIO. Read: Dubai completes region's first Joby Aerial Taxi test flight, says Sheikh Hamdan Achievement builds on approval of UAE's first hybrid heliport The test flight supports Archer's Launch Edition commercialization program with Abu Dhabi Aviation, which aims to establish flying taxi services in Abu Dhabi. The announcement comes as Archer continues to advance its certification and commercialization efforts in the UAE and beyond, building on recent achievements, including regulatory design approval for the UAE's first hybrid heliport at Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal and ongoing partnerships with leading regional operators. 'Our initial test flight operations in the UAE represent a critical milestone as we prepare for our commercial deployment in Abu Dhabi. Testing our aircraft in actual operating conditions in the middle of summer provides us with the data we need to progress our commercial and certification efforts both in the UAE and in the U.S.,' said Adam Goldstein, CEO and founder of Archer Aviation. The Launch Edition program represents Archer's approach to establishing commercial operations in key early adopter markets. Abu Dhabi's role as Archer's first Launch Edition market positions the emirate as a global leader in urban air mobility deployment, demonstrating Abu Dhabi's commitment to innovative transport and sustainable mobility solutions.
Globe and Mail
02-07-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Archer Begins Test Flights in Abu Dhabi
Archer (NYSE: ACHR) today announced the successful completion of an initial flight of its Midnight aircraft at Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi, marking a key milestone for its planned commercial deployment in the UAE and the expansion of its operations in the Middle East region. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: Archer's Midnight aircraft flying at Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi With the support of the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council (SASC), the flight was witnessed by senior leadership from the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), the Integrated Transport Centre, Abu Dhabi Aviation and Abu Dhabi Airports, along with representatives from Archer's regional partners. Focused on evaluating the aircraft's VTOL performance in UAE-specific conditions including temperature, humidity and dust exposure, the test flight allows Archer to validate readiness for commercial deployment. Following this milestone, Archer will expand its flight-testing program for Midnight in the region, gathering additional data to support its certification and commercialization plans in both the UAE and other key markets. 'This flight marks a significant step towards realising Abu Dhabi's ambition to lead the world in advanced urban air mobility,' said H.E. Badr Al-Olama, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office. 'Through the Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industry (SAVI) Cluster, we are enabling companies like Archer to test, certify and scale next-generation air mobility solutions, reinforcing our position as a global launchpad for innovation and a hub for transformative technologies.' 'Our initial test flight operations in the UAE represent a critical milestone as we prepare for our commercial deployment in Abu Dhabi,' said Adam Goldstein, CEO and Founder of Archer Aviation. 'Testing our aircraft in actual operating conditions in the middle of summer provides us with the data we need to progress our commercial and certification efforts both in the UAE and in the U.S.' The test flight supports Archer's Launch Edition commercialization program with Abu Dhabi Aviation, which aims to establish air taxi services in Abu Dhabi. The announcement comes as Archer continues to advance its certification and commercialization efforts in the UAE and beyond, building on recent achievements including regulatory design approval for the UAE's first hybrid heliport at Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal and ongoing partnerships with leading regional operators. The Launch Edition program represents Archer's approach to establishing commercial operations in key early adopter markets. Abu Dhabi's role as Archer's first Launch Edition market positions the emirate as a global leader in urban air mobility deployment, demonstrating Abu Dhabi's commitment to innovative transport and sustainable mobility solutions. About Archer Archer is designing and developing the key enabling technologies and aircraft necessary to power the future of aviation. To learn more, visit Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward looking statements regarding Archer's future business plans and goals, including statements regarding the development, flight testing, commercialization, and certification of its aircraft and the plans for its 'Launch Edition' program. In addition, this press release refers to a partnership that is conditioned on the future execution by the parties of additional binding definitive agreements incorporating the terms outlined in the memorandum of understanding, which definitive agreements may not be completed or may contain different terms than those set forth in the framework agreement. These forward-looking statements are only predictions and may differ materially from actual results due to a variety of factors. The risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from the results predicted are more fully detailed in Archer's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, available at In addition, please note that any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on assumptions that Archer believes to be reasonable as of the date of this press release. Archer undertakes no obligation to update these statements as a result of new information or future events.
