Image: United States Geological Survey (USGS) · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons
Archer Midnight Electric eVTOL Flies Round Trip Between Salinas and Monterey Airports
Archer Aviation's all-electric eVTOL completed a coordinated nine-minute city-to-city round trip flight in California, aligning with plans for the White House's eVTOL Integration Pilot Program.
The gist
Archer Midnight eVTOL completed a swift, FAA-coordinated round trip flight between Salinas and Monterey, preparing for future urban air taxi service.
Continuing coverage
All Urban Air Mobility →Archer Aviation has successfully completed a piloted round trip flight with its all-electric Midnight eVTOL aircraft between Salinas Municipal Airport and Monterey Regional Airport in California. The flights, which took place on July 30, were carefully coordinated with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ensure compliance with regulatory standards. This accomplishment represents a significant milestone as the company moves towards commercial urban air mobility operations.
Each leg of the flight took approximately nine minutes, markedly reducing travel time compared to the typical 35-minute or longer drive between Salinas and Monterey. Archer's CEO, Adam Goldstein, highlighted that the route serves as a practical example of the short-hop journeys the Midnight aircraft is designed to undertake. The efficient flight time illustrates the advantages of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in urban and regional transportation.
This roundtrip mission exemplifies the type of operations Archer plans to conduct under the U.S. Department of Transportation’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), which involves demonstrating safe and effective air taxi services. The company is preparing to expand similar operations in other key regions including Texas, Florida, and New York. These preparations are essential to comply with evolving regulatory frameworks and to build community acceptance for urban air mobility.
In addition to supporting the eIPP, Archer is actively collaborating with federal, state, and local government entities to develop the necessary infrastructure, procedures, and local operating capabilities. These cooperative efforts address the myriad challenges related to integrating eVTOL aircraft into existing airspace and urban environments, encompassing aspects from flight planning to passenger handling and ground logistics.
Archer’s anticipation of operational deployment is heightened by its selection as the official air taxi provider for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games. The demonstration flights between Salinas and Monterey are part of the broader strategy to ensure the company is mission-ready for these high-profile events, where air taxis will offer alternative transit options for attendees and support city mobility.
The Midnight aircraft itself is designed for efficient urban transportation with a fully electric propulsion system and vertical takeoff and landing capabilities. Its deployment aligns with industry trends prioritizing sustainability, noise reduction, and speed in urban air travel. Archer's ongoing testing and government coordination serve to validate the technical viability and public safety of eVTOL operations.
This latest milestone also underscores the rapid pace at which eVTOL technology is advancing from concept and prototype stages to practical application. By successfully completing such city-to-city flights, Archer demonstrates progress in operationalizing electric air mobility solutions that could reshape regional travel patterns.
The company is poised to build upon this and other demonstration missions as it gears up for expanded commercial operations under the eIPP later in 2026. The experience gained in these flights will inform future certifications, operational protocols, and integration into increasingly complex urban environments.
Archer’s progress exemplifies a broader wave in the aviation sector aimed at revolutionizing short-distance air travel with clean, quiet, and fast alternatives. As regulatory frameworks mature alongside technological advances, these initial flights mark a foundational step toward realizing electric urban air mobility on a commercial scale.
Frequently asked questions
- What route did Archer Aviation's Midnight eVTOL fly during its recent test?
- The Midnight eVTOL completed a round trip between Salinas Municipal Airport and Monterey Regional Airport in California.
- How long did each leg of the Midnight electric aircraft's flight take?
- Each leg of the flight took about nine minutes, significantly shorter than the typical 35-minute drive between the two cities.
- How does this flight fit into Archer's future operational plans?
- This flight supports Archer’s preparations for commercial operations under the White House’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program and for air taxi service at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
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Air Atlantis, Portuguese Charter Airline, Shaped 1980s European Holiday Travel
For many plane spotters who frequented regional airports during the late 1980s and early 1990s, the sight of an Air Atlantis aircraft arriving from Portugal remains a fond memory. Wearing an attractive green-and-white livery and operating a fleet of Boeing 727s and 737s, the airline became a familiar visitor at airports across the UK and Europe during the package holiday boom. Although Air Atlantis existed for less than a decade, it played an important role in Portuguese aviation and helped support the rapid growth of tourism to the Algarve and Madeira before eventually being absorbed back into its parent company. The Birth of Air Atlantis Air Atlantis Boeing 707 at Birmingham. Photo: simon butler Air Atlantis was established in 1985 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Portugal’s flag carrier, TAP Air Portugal. During the 1980s, demand for leisure travel from northern Europe to Portugal was growing rapidly, particularly from the United Kingdom, Germany and Scandinavia. Rather than use its mainline fleet on charter operations, TAP created a dedicated airline that could focus entirely on the booming holiday market while allowing the parent airline to concentrate on scheduled international services. Based at Lisbon Airport, Air Atlantis began operations in 1986 and quickly became a major player in Portugal’s charter sector. Charter Flights Across Europe Air Atlantis 727-200. Photo: Rob Hodgkins The airline’s business centred on flying holidaymakers from across Europe to Portugal’s popular resort destinations. Flights linked cities throughout Britain, Ireland, Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Scandinavia with Lisbon, Faro, Funchal and Porto, carrying thousands of package holiday passengers every summer. British enthusiasts regularly saw Air Atlantis aircraft at airports including Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Newcastle, East Midlands, Bristol, Bournemouth and many other regional airports. Their flights were often operated on behalf of major tour operators, meaning the airline became a familiar sight despite never operating scheduled services of its own. As well as leisure flights, Air Atlantis occasionally undertook ad hoc charter work and aircraft leasing for other airlines when demand required. The Air Atlantis Fleet Pedro Aragão, CC BY-SA 3.0 GFDL, via Wikimedia Commons Air Atlantis operated a fleet mostly in line with its parent, TAP Air Portugal, through whom it mostly procured its aircraft. In fact, the airline’s livery closely resembled that of the parent carrier through its use of white, green and red, reflecting the Portuguese flag. Air Atlantis began operations with Boeing 707-300, 727-100 and 737-200 aircraft in 1985. It later added Boeing 727-200 and 737-300 types as the fleet grew. In total, 19 aircraft were operated by Air Atlantis between 1985 and 1989. Perhaps the airline’s greatest attraction for enthusiasts was its fleet. The aircraft were configured in high-density seating layouts to maximise passenger capacity. Part of the Golden Age of Charter Flying Air Atlantis arrived at a time when charter airlines were flourishing across Europe. During the late 1980s, airports around the UK welcomed a fascinating variety of leisure carriers every summer. Britannia Airways, Dan-Air, Air Europe, Monarch, TEA, Spantax and many others regularly appeared alongside overseas operators such as Air Atlantis. For plane spotters, this meant regional airports often offered far greater variety than they do today, with unusual airlines and aircraft arriving from across Europe on weekly holiday flights. Why Did Air Atlantis Disappear? After Air Atlantis was closed down some of its fleet merged back into TAP Air Portugal. Photo: Aero Icarus By the early 1990s, the European airline market was changing rapidly. Charter and scheduled operations were becoming increasingly integrated, while deregulation created new opportunities for airlines to operate more flexibly. In 1993, TAP decided to wind up Air Atlantis and bring its charter activities back under the main airline. The fleet was gradually dispersed, with several aircraft finding new homes elsewhere around the world. Although the airline disappeared after only seven years, it left behind fond memories for enthusiasts who photographed its aircraft during the golden age of European package holidays. Do you remember seeing Air Atlantis at your local airport? Did you ever fly on the airline? Leave a comment below! For more articles on historic airlines and aircraft, remember to sign up for our free newsletter below! Title image: Maarten Visser
North Central Texas Council Launches $1M Fund for eVTOL Airport Chargers
The North Central Texas Council of Governments has opened a $1 million funding program for electric-aircraft charging equipment at public-use airports in the Dallas-Fort Worth region. Applications are due Aug. 7 at 5 p.m. CDT. The money was initially approved in September 2024 for a potential advanced-air-mobility demonstration connected to the 2026 World Cup. That plan did not proceed as originally envisioned. Arlington dropped expectations for carrying passengers during the tournament because aircraft certification and FAA regulations would not be completed in time, and NCTCOG later redirected the funding toward permanent charging infrastructure and airport readiness. The revised program also supports North Texas' participation in the larger eVTOL Integration Pilot Program ( eIPP ). The state’s participation in the initiative is led by the Texas Department of Transportation and is intended to develop infrastructure, routes and operating procedures for future electric-aircraft demonstrations and service. Airports in the council's 12-county planning area may seek awards of up to $200,000. The program does not require matching funds. Eligible expenses include an eVTOL charger and infrastructure directly required to install and operate it. Stand-alone electrical improvements that do not result in an installed charger are not eligible. The council said applications will be evaluated on airport planning documents, knowledge of advanced-air-mobility infrastructure, partnerships and implementation schedules. Proposed projects must also demonstrate how the equipment could support future aircraft operators, demonstrations or private investment.
FAA Sets Certification Basis for Electra EL9 Hybrid-Electric Aircraft
Electra announced Friday that the FAA has closed the G-1 issue paper for its EL9 Ultra Short aircraft, formally establishing the certification basis for the nine-passenger hybrid-electric design. The milestone does not constitute type certification but sets the regulatory requirements the company must meet to obtain it. Certification Framework The company submitted its Part 23 type certification application in November 2025. Closing the G-1 issue paper after seven months establishes an agreed regulatory foundation for the EL9's distributed hybrid-electric propulsion, blown-lift system and fly-by-wire controls. "The swift G1 achievement reflects the hard work and productive collaboration between Electra and the FAA," Electra CEO Marc Allen said. Allen said the company will now carry that work into the G-2 phase of the certification program. Compliance Planning The G-2 phase will focus on the EL9's means of compliance, or how Electra will demonstrate that the design meets the certification basis. Electra Senior Vice President for Product Development JP Stewart said that work will include engineering analysis, ground and flight testing, inspections, conformity activities and certification data. Electra said the EL9 is designed to take off and land in 150 feet or less and carry up to nine passengers on routes of up to 330 nautical miles. The aircraft uses a small turbine-powered generator, battery packs and eight electric motors distributed along the wing to produce lift at low airspeeds.
Electra Achieves FAA Certification Basis Using Desired Path for EL9 eVTOL
Electra announced on Friday that the Federal Aviation Administration has closed the G-1 issue paper for its nine-passenger EL9 "Ultra Short" aircraft, a major regulatory milestone that the company said confirms its ability to use the comparatively straightforward certification path that other advanced air mobility entrants were denied. G-1 issue papers are used by the FAA to define the certification basis for aircraft undergoing type certification. Until leading electric vertical take-off and landing […]
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