Trump EVTOL Speedup Order Effects Seen At Archer Aviation, AIR

While gymnasts are flying inside a venue during the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Archer Aviation electric air taxis will be flitting through the air above the area saving athletes, VIPs, guests and myriad others from performing brutal traffic acrobatics to get from place-to-place.

Named exclusive air taxi vendor for the 2028 Summer Olympics, Paralymics and Team USA, Archer is among the several manufacturers and operators of what’s known as electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, or eVTOLs.

They all look to benefit from an Executive Order signed by President Donald Trump on June 6 calling for faster commercialization of eVTOLs and drones.

Related specifically to eVTOLs, the order states, “Emerging technologies such as electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft promise to modernize methods for cargo delivery, passenger transport, and other advanced air mobility capabilities.”

It’s a process that really started during the Biden administration when the Federal Aviation Administration created the “powered lift” category that includes eVTOLs, according to Archer founder and CEO Adam Goldstein.

“So when the executive order came out, it was saying, yep, this is a big focus. We need to work on this. We need to make to make sure this is prioritized. We need to make sure this gets done,” said Goldstein.

Indeed, the President’s executive order added impetus to the efforts by Israeli eVTOL company AIR launched a new, state-of-the-art 32,000 square foot facility in central Israel, the Tel Aviv-based company announced Tuesday.

The new site will also serve as the blueprint for a larger, more advanced U.S.-based facility, equipped with an automated production line for high volume production.

“Our decision to focus our efforts on the U.S., from R&D and flight testing to customer engagement and ultimately opening a large-scale automated manufacturing site, is now more relevant than ever. We will be able to duplicate the progress we’ve had so far in Israel, having already delivered aircraft and completed beyond visual line of site cargo operations for our launch customer,” said in an interview conducted by email.

To further accelerate the many steps to launching eVTOL operations globally, Archer’s Goldstein met with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, acting Federal Aviation administrator Chris Rocheleau at the recently held Paris Auto Show to create five-nation alliance that includes the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

But along with streamlining testing and certification processes, the talks had the additional goal of growing a domestic industry.

“Not only could we just build and certify planes here, but also ultimately, export them, you know, to the world, which is, I think, clearly important to the U.S. economy to add jobs,” Goldstein said. “I think the other thing that’s important is, I think everybody agrees that we should have more manufacturing jobs like in America.”

Still, accelerating and tightening the various steps along the way, while maintaining quality and safety are paramount.

Even though the Olympics are three years away, they represent a deadline that can’t slip for clearing the bureaucratic runway for Archer to operate, he noted.

There’s plenty to do, including building an infrastructure for the planes, said Goldstein. While the exact number of aircraft hasn’t yet been set, Goldstein estimated they would be “in the tens.”

It all comes as the San Jose, California-based company continues to grow and develop its Midnight aircraft designed to carry a pilot and four passengers and their carry-on luggage, while entering into new partnerships.

Six days after the announcement of Pres. Trump’s executive order Archer said it raised $850 million through a registered direct stock offering. That money will not only provide greater liquidity to the company but go towards supporting other segments of its business including defense, civic functions and software development, Goldstein explained.

The company has also entered into a strategic partnership with Dubai-based private aviation company Jetex to develop an infrastructure for air taxi service at the company’s 40 private air terminals in 30 countries. Initial efforts will focus on the United Arab Emirates, the company’s said.

As for AIR, which doubled its team size over the past year and expanded its product line, the new production facility in Israel represents its next phase of growth.

That growth includes 15 uncrewed eVTOL’s scheduled for delivery in the coming year and more than 2,500 pre-orders for the piloted AIR ONE for personal use, and eventually, production in the U.S.

“The Executive Order and the launch of the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program are incredibly aligned with AIR’s vision and technology roadmap,” said Rosen.

For Archer Aviation, Trump’s order to accelerate commercialization of eVTOLs and drones adds both urgency and support from the U.S. government for a first-of-its-kind demonstration of a new kind of transportation that will be under bracing pressure to succeed at a global event.

“They understand it’s a new form of sustainable, safe, quiet, lower cost form of travel,” declared Goldstein. “That’s the goal, to showcase that.”