GACA signs MoU with Archer on air taxi deployment

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) in Saudi Arabia announced the signing of a partnership agreement with Archer Aviation to accelerate the deployment of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft across the Kingdom. The agreement forms part of GACA’s ongoing efforts to advance the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) ecosystem in line with the AAM Roadmap and the objectives of the aviation program under the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS), representing another step in the Kingdom’s broader program to develop next-generation air transport solutions. Under the agreement, GACA and Archer will cooperate to enhance and further mature the existing regulatory framework governing eVTOL operations in Saudi Arabia. This includes continued alignment with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification standards to strengthen interoperability, reinforce safety, and support the progressive scale-up of air taxi services. GACA and Archer will also undertake a series of proof-of-concept demonstrations and experimental flights to validate regulatory approaches, support infrastructure development, and strengthen public readiness for electric air taxi services. Captain Sulaiman bin Saleh Al-Muhaimedi, Executive Vice President for Aviation Safety and Environmental Sustainability at GACA, stated: “This MoU is an important step in advancing the Kingdom’s vision for Advanced Air Mobility. By working with global partners such as Archer, we continue to strengthen the regulatory and operational foundations needed to safely integrate eVTOL aircraft into our aviation system. The initiative supports the AAM Roadmap and reinforces the Kingdom’s position as a regional leader in next-generation air transport.” Archer Founder and CEO Adam Goldstein said: “Saudi Arabia is moving with impressive speed and clarity to build a next-generation mobility ecosystem, and we are honored that GACA has chosen to work with Archer in this transformative effort. Harmonizing our certification work with the FAA and launching early demonstration operations in the Kingdom will help lay the groundwork for bringing safe, sustainable, and efficient air taxi travel to millions of people. We look forward to working hand-in-hand with GACA to make the Kingdom one of the world’s first markets to embrace eVTOL aircraft at scale.” The agreement builds on Archer’s recent collaborations in the Kingdom, including its work with The Helicopter Company and Red Sea Global to develop eVTOL test environments, supporting Saudi Arabia’s efforts to become an early adopter and regional leader in advanced air mobility technologies. Eve Air Mobility, SkyGrid publish white paper on AAM Eve Air Mobility and SkyGrid, an Advanced Air Mobility Third-Party Service Provider (TSP) announced the joint publication of a landmark white paper titled “Enabling Advanced Air Mobility – Automated Traffic Management Services for Low-Altitude Operations” unveiled during the CANSO Airspace Asia Pacific conference in Hong Kong, reinforcing their commitment to sustainable and scalable Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). The paper provides a roadmap for airspace integration and automation, setting the stage for the future of digital aviation. Developed jointly by Eve and SkyGrid, the 17-page white paper addresses the operational and regulatory challenges of integrating highly automated eVTOLs and other new aircraft into urban and regional airspace. It proposes how Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) can collaborate with third-party service providers to deliver novel data services and automation, supporting the safe and efficient scaling of AAM operations worldwide. “Publishing this paper at Airspace Asia Pacific represents a pivotal moment for the future of aviation,” said Luiz Mauad, Vice President of Customer Services at Eve. “Our vision is to ensure that Advanced Air Mobility is not only possible, but scalable, safe and sustainable. A key enabler will be optimising the eVTOLs’ ability to navigate the skies, and by collaborating with SkyGrid as well as the wider industry, we are laying the groundwork for a new era of traffic management. This will allow urban air mobility to thrive while supporting the needs of traditional aviation. Asia-Pacific, in particular, presents an extraordinary opportunity to lead this transformation, given its pace of urbanisation and demand for new mobility solutions.” “SkyGrid is proud to work with Eve in charting a clear path toward automated low-altitude traffic management,” said Nate Isbell, Head of Business Development at SkyGrid. “Our research underscores how automation and data-driven services can transform airspace management, reduce complexity for regulators, and create new opportunities for operators. This white paper is not just a vision; it is an invitation for governments, ANSPs and industry leaders to join us in building the systems that will unlock Advanced Air Mobility at scale and deliver lasting value to societies worldwide.” According to the paper, automated traffic management services will enhance predictability, capacity and flexibility in urban skies, ensuring that AAM flights can operate safely alongside conventional aviation. With new technologies, digital airspace structures and data exchange, ANSPs can support high volumes of low-altitude traffic without adding strain to controllers or infrastructure. The white paper is available for industry review and discussion as part of the CANSO panel “Pathway to Advanced Air Mobility – Launching Regional AAM into the Future.” Eve and SkyGrid reaffirm their shared commitment to working with regulators, ANSPs and operators to advance digital infrastructure and automation that will redefine how people and goods move through cities and regions worldwide. According to Eve’s Market Outlook, the Asia-Pacific region alone is expected to represent 41% of the world’s eVTOL fleet by 2045, with more than 12,200 aircraft in service. This growth will be driven by rapid urbanisation, rising middle-class populations and increasing congestion in the world’s largest cities. Together, Eve and SkyGrid are committed to ensuring that this growth is achieved in a safe, digital, and sustainable way. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Kay Rolland at [email protected]