New Delhi: Archer Aviation, supported by Stellantis and Boeing, is primed to unveil its electric air-taxi in India by 2026, as asserted by the Company’s Chief Commercial Officer (COO) Nikhil Goel on Sunday. In an exclusive dialogue, he further elaborated that training for fresh pilots will be necessary to operate these cutting-edge aircraft, thereby fostering job creation.
For commercial activities, Archer is in the conclusive phases of obtaining endorsements from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States. The aircraft can accommodate four passengers at a time alongside a pilot, covering distances of up to 100 miles (approximately 160 kilometers) in just 7 minutes, equivalent to a 60-90 minute journey by car in New Delhi.
Initially, the tariff for the electric air taxi service will hover around $100 (roughly Rs 8,000) per passenger, he appended.
Excerpt from the comprehensive interview:
Q1. Archer aviation in coalition with InterGlobe is poised to revolutionize urban mobility by launching an all-electric air taxi service. Could you provide an overview of this?
Answer: Archer Aviation and InterGlobe Enterprises intend to roll out an all-electric air taxi service in India by 2026, targeting major urban hubs such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. This initiative aims to leverage Archer’s Midnight aircraft, tailored for swift, effective, and eco-friendly urban transit. The collaboration aims to enhance urban mobility with secure, sustainable, and low-noise air taxis, presenting a groundbreaking transportation solution.
Q2. What will be the fare for this service? And from which cities or states will it commence? Also, what are the future plans?
Answer: Initially, the fare for the electric air taxi service will hover around $100 (approximately Rs 8,000) per passenger. This pricing aims to compete with premium ground transportation alternatives. The service will kick off in major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, with expansion plans contingent upon market acceptance and infrastructure development.
Q3. Can you provide insights into its certification process, the nations utilizing it, and passenger safety? Additionally, how many individuals can these air taxis accommodate at once?
Answer: The certification process for Archer’s electric air taxis entails stringent safety and regulatory evaluations by aviation authorities to ensure adherence to both local and international standards. In the United States, we are presently making rapid strides through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA’s) certification requisites. Archer’s Midnight aircraft can accommodate four passengers at a time, prioritizing safety and efficiency for urban commutes.
Q4. These air taxis will necessitate a distinct cadre of pilots. What is the status on that? And how many jobs will this service/sector generate in the forthcoming years?
Answer: To operate these sophisticated aircraft, a new cadre of pilots will undergo training. Archer, in partnership with InterGlobe, aims to institute training initiatives for pilots and other indispensable personnel. This endeavor is anticipated to generate a substantial number of employment opportunities across various sectors essential for supporting this novel form of urban transport. One advantage of our technology is that these aircraft are considerably easier to pilot than existing options such as helicopters, facilitating the expeditious advancement of pilots through training.
Q5. Given that these are electric air taxis, what is the foremost challenge involved, and what has been the response from other stakeholders? Could you provide additional details on this?
Answer: The primary challenge in introducing Archer’s electric air taxis lies in educating the public about how this innovative mode of transportation can revolutionize mobility today. This technology is eagerly awaited by consumers in India, in particular. A recent McKinsey consumer survey revealed that thirty-six percent of Indian consumers expressed a definite willingness to pay five times the price of their current mode of transportation to avail of an AAM vehicle for trips to or from airports. An additional 43% indicated a willingness to pay double the price of their current mode of transportation. Our objective is to contribute to resolving the traffic congestion plaguing cities worldwide. The only way to achieve this is by offering flights that are competitively priced compared to other options such as premium ridesharing. Over time, with scaled manufacturing, streamlined operations, and autonomy, our aim is to progressively reduce that price point.
Q6. How has communication been with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and DGCA?
Answer: We have already commenced collaboration with our partner InterGlobe to establish a fruitful engagement with the DGCA and Ministry of Aviation.
Q7. Can you provide an estimate regarding the financial investment in this Mega project?
Answer: While speci