Archer Aviation Inc. and Soracle Corporation, a joint venture between Japan Airlines and Sumitomo Corporation, have signed agreements to bring eVTOLs to Japan.
Soracle plans to launch its AAM operation in Japan using Archer’s Midnight aircraft, with the goal of offering electric air taxi flights in cities where existing ground transportation is constrained by traffic or geographic barriers.
To do so, Soracle has obtained the right to place aircraft orders of up to 100 Midnight aircraft, totaling approximately $500M, which would include pre-delivery payments based on certain milestones in advance of aircraft delivery.
Soracle will develop a variety of flight routes in attractive areas for residents as well as domestic and international visitors. Route locations could include places like Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Hokkaido, Setouchi and Okinawa with the aim of establishing a transportation network that creates new value through mobility in the sky.
Archer and Soracle will work closely with the Japanese Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) to obtain the necessary permissions and certifications. Archer and JCAB have already begun discussions and Archer intends to work to certify our aircraft in Japan.
As a first step toward commercializing AAM services in Japan, Archer and Soracle plan to conduct a public flight demonstration at the World Expo.
Archer says it’s Midnight aircraft is designed to offer passengers a safe, sustainable and low-noise alternative to ground transportation featuring:
- Travel at speeds up to 150 mph, turning hour-long ground commutes into minutes
- Designed for back-to-back flights of 20 to 50 miles with minimal charge time in between
- 100x quieter than a helicopter at cruising altitudes
- Redundant systems across the aircraft designed for similar levels of safety as commercial airliners
- Piloted, and designed to carry up to four passengers with carry-on luggage
Filed Under: Electrification, Technology News