Archer Midnight is selected for Saudi Arabia eVTOL deployment

Source | Archer Aviation

The Helicopter Co. (THC, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia), a Public Investment Fund (PIF) company and Saudi Arabia’s premier commercial helicopter operator, has signed an agreement with Archer Aviation (Santa Clara, Calif., U.S.) and Red Sea Global (RSG, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia), the developer behind regenerative tourism destinations of The Red Sea and AMAALA. The partnership will focus on the development, testing and potential integration of Archer’s electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft Midnight into RSG’s operations as one of the first deployments of eVTOL aircraft in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The signing is a step toward the Kingdom’s efforts to explore and integrate eVTOL aircraft into its emerging mobility ecosystem. In the agreement’s initial phase, Archer Aviation will work together with THC and RSG to build the foundational framework for planned eVTOL operations in Saudi Arabia. This includes establishing a structured sandbox environment to conduct test flights with Midnight under real-world conditions to assess aircraft performance, operational feasibility, regulatory alignment, passenger acceptance and overall ecosystem readiness. Partners will also collaborate on testing advanced aerial technologies, exploring long-term strategic partnerships for large-scale deployment and supporting regional innovation to advance aviation systems.

As the framework progresses, RSG will lead the sandbox testing with Archer’s aircraft to evaluate the potential for integrating eVTOL aircraft into the company’s future operations. Given RSG’s controlled airspace, sustainable infrastructure and its position as a flagship developer under PIF, it offers a suitable platform to demonstrate the potential of advanced air mobility in supporting regenerative tourism and next-generation transportation options for the Kingdom.

According to Archer Aviation’s founder and CEO, Adam Goldstein, “A key part of Archer’s strategy is partnering with the leading operators in each country who share our goals and vision, and both THC and RSG are similarly committed to ensuring that Saudi Arabia is operationally prepared to launch eVTOL aircraft. We look forward to working together to demonstrate how Archer’s Midnight aircraft can transform travel within the Kingdom and set a regional benchmark for the future of aviation.”

Following the completion of the sandbox program, all parties will review the results and consider further initiatives to support large-scale introduction of eVTOL services.