Archer Aviation has signed an agreement with The Helicopter Company, a Public Investment Fund (PIF) company and Saudi Arabia’s premier commercial helicopter operator, which aims to accelerate the development, testing and potential integration of Archer’s eVTOL aircraft into Red Sea Global’s (RSG) operations as one of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s first deployments of eVTOL aircraft.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Captain Arnaud Martinez, CEO of THC, John Pagano Group CEO of Red Sea Global, and Nikhil Goel, Chief Commercial Officer of Archer Aviation during the Dubai Airshow.
In its initial phase, the agreement will see Archer work with THC and RSG to establish a foundational framework for their planned eVTOL operations within Saudi Arabia, including the setup of a structured sandbox environment in which to conduct test flights with Archer’s Midnight eVTOL under real-world conditions in order to assess its performance, operational feasibility, regulatory alignment, passenger acceptance and general ecosystem readiness.
The companies will also collaborate on the testing of advanced aerial technologies to explore long-term strategic partnerships for large-scale deployment.
Over time, the framework will see RSG lead the sandbox testing with Midnight to evaluate the potential for the integration of eVTOL aircraft into its future operations.
John Pagano Group CEO of Red Sea Global stated, said:At Red Sea Global, we are committed to redefining sustainable travel and setting new standards for innovation within the Kingdom’s tourism and mobility sectors. Partnering with THC and Archer, to explore the integration of eVTOL aircraft into our destinations aligns perfectly with our vision for regenerative tourism, creating cleaner, faster, and more connected ways for guests to experience the beauty of Saudi Arabia.
