Archer’s Midnight is a 4-seater aircraft, which can carry four passengers and a pilot for up to 160 kilometres.
“While cities are getting more populated, our transportation options are degrading. That burden is particularly profound right here in India and that is what we are looking to address. I am confident that India will be not only be one of, but perhaps the largest market for electric air taxis in the world,” Goel said at the ET World Leaders Forum.
Archer has tied up with InterGlobe Enterprises, which is the owner of India’s largest airline, IndiGo, credited with making air travel more affordable in India. The US company plans to replicate the IndiGo model for its air taxi services - increase trip volume and reduce overall cost by achieving economies of scale. India is the third country besides the US and UAE where Archer plans to start operating. Archer will look to cater to passengers of IndiGo for their journey to and fro airport. IndiGo carries around 90 lakh passengers per month.
Archer is undergoing the certification process from US aviation regulator Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It has received the Part 135 certification, which effectively allows the company to carry passengers like an airline.
Goel said that India's civil aviation regulator DGCA is also supportive to frame policies on air taxis. “We have been working with Interglobe for more than over the last year, and together we've started to analyze routes across some of India's largest cities. We see tremendous, not only potential, but support from everybody we meet, whether it's with municipal leaders, federal government and regulators,” Goel said.
The regulator is working on a policy for air taxi and regulations regarding vertical ports for its landing and take-off.
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