Archer Aviation has received official FAA certification to launch its new pilot training academy.
The certification, which is formally referred to as Part 141, signifies a flight school as being formally recognised by the FAA, designating the academy as a regulated institution for pilot training exercises.
With the certificate’s receipt, Archer is now able to both train and qualify new pilots at its training academy, with the company announcing plans to begin building a line of pilots to prepare for potential commercial air taxi services in the near future.
Services will be carried out with the company’s Midnight aircraft unit, which has now received its third certification from the FAA, designating it as suitable for air taxi operations once it achieves Type Certification. Previous certificates for Midnight were awarded in both June and February 2024. The company has now begun the application process for its fourth and final certificate – Part 142.
Archer Chief Operating Officer, UAM Tom Anderson, said:Thanks to the hard work of the Archer team and the FAA, Archer now has its Part 141 certificate in hand—yet another step towards our commercial launch. I look forward to seeing the results of this effort in the form of talented pilots who can one day be at the controls of our Midnight aircraft.
The FAA continues to be an invaluable partner as we work together toward the safe entry of air taxis into the national airspace.
The Part 141 certificate was granted by the FAA during a ceremony at Archer’s flight test site in Caifornia, which saw Archer’s Chief Operating Officer and Chief People Officer, Tosha Perkins, joined by Thom Holden, Manager of the FAA’s San Jose Flight Standards District Office and David Pease, an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector.
