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 its planned entry into service in the UAE.
Archer is the first eVTOL manufacturer to move into an RTC certification track with the GCAA, using an airworthiness framework aligned with international aviation standards.
The RTC program provides a structured pathway for Archer to begin limited commercial operations while ensuring that the Midnight aircraft is developed under a regulatory framework designed to support long-term commercial deployment in the UAE.
The development follows several years of technical collaboration between the GCAA and Archer, including multiple on-site inspections at Archer’s headquarters and flight test facilities in the United States, as well as in-country flight trials of the Midnight aircraft.
The initiative has also been supported by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) as part of efforts to position Abu Dhabi as a global hub for the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries (SAVI) cluster.
A key component of this regulatory phase includes the initiation of a GCAA Design Organization Approval (DOA) and Production Organization Approval (POA), which reflect the regulator’s confidence in Archer’s engineering processes and safety management systems.
Aqeel Al Zarooni, Assistant Director-General, Aviation Safety Affairs Sector at GCAA stated that, “The GCAA is committed to safely integrating innovative aviation technologies into the UAE airspace.”
Through the program, Archer and the GCAA have progressed across eight workstreams linked to commercial readiness, including aircraft certification, operations, maintenance, flight crew training, airspace integration, vertiports, security, and regulatory oversight.
The Midnight aircraft is planned to enter service in Abu Dhabi in partnership with Abu Dhabi Aviation, which will serve as the local operating partner.
Mahmood Al Hameli Group CEO Abu Dhabi Aviation
“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.”
Adam Goldstein, founder and CEO of Archer, highlighted that, “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.”
