Archer Aviation Inc Stock Price, News & Analysis

Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR) has received FAA Part 141 certification to launch its pilot training academy, marking the third key operational certificate required for launching air taxi operations. This certification allows Archer to formally train and qualify pilots for its planned commercial air taxi services using its Midnight aircraft.

The company previously obtained its Part 135 Air Carrier & Operator Certificate in June 2024 and Part 145 certification in February 2024. Archer has already begun the application process for Part 142, the fourth and final certificate needed. The Part 141 certificate was granted during a ceremony at Archer's flight test facility in Salinas, CA.

Archer aims to transform urban travel by replacing 60-90-minute car commutes with 10-20-minute electric air taxi flights. The Midnight aircraft is designed as a piloted, four-passenger vehicle capable of performing rapid back-to-back flights with minimal charging time.

Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR) has announced it will release its fourth quarter and full year 2024 operating update and financial results after market close on Thursday, February 27, 2025. The company will host a live webcast at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time to discuss the results. The webcast and replay will be accessible at investors.archer.com. For the first time, Archer will implement Say Technologies' Q&A Platform, allowing shareholders to submit and vote on questions through their dedicated platform.

Archer has successfully raised $301.75M from leading institutional investors, including funds managed by BlackRock, bringing its total liquidity position to approximately $1 billion. The funding will accelerate the development of its hybrid aircraft platform, particularly focusing on defense applications.

The financing involved the sale of 35,500,000 shares of Class A common stock at $8.50 per share. The company plans to use the proceeds for developing next-generation aircraft manufacturing capabilities, including batteries and composites. Archer's preliminary Q4 2024 financial results indicate GAAP operating expenses between $120-140 million and non-GAAP operating expenses within $95-110 million range.

The company launched Archer Defense in December to develop next-generation vertical-take-off-and-landing aircraft with hybrid propulsion for defense applications. CEO Adam Goldstein noted that defense opportunities appear substantially larger than initially expected.

Archer Defense has added Lieutenant General (Ret) Scott Howell to its Advisory Board. Howell, a highly decorated retired military leader, will support Archer Defense, a new business unit focused on next-gen military aircraft. He will guide the team in their work with the Department of Defense and other military branches.

Archer Defense, announced in December, aims to leverage expertise in aircraft development, advanced flight controls, and scalable manufacturing. Its first project, in partnership with Anduril, involves a hybrid-propulsion, vertical-take-off-and-landing (VTOL) aircraft. Howell's military career includes leadership roles in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Pentagon, and the White House, notably accelerating military transformation and securing the largest-ever budget for U.S. Special Operations Command.

In the private sector, Howell will continue his advisory role with General Catalyst, focusing on modern defense and intelligence. Archer's CEO, Adam Goldstein, expressed confidence in Howell's ability to accelerate innovation in military aviation. Howell joins an advisory board that includes seven other retired military leaders.

Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR) has completed construction of its ~400,000 square foot manufacturing facility (ARC) in Covington, GA, receiving the certificate of occupancy. The company is preparing for initial production in early 2025, targeting a production rate of two aircraft monthly by year-end. Stellantis is partnering with Archer as its exclusive contract manufacturer, providing capital, technology, and expertise to help scale production to 650 aircraft annually by 2030.

The facility, connected to Covington Municipal Airport, will manufacture Archer's Midnight eVTOL aircraft, designed as a sustainable, low-noise alternative to ground transportation in congested urban areas. The project represents a shift from R&D to commercialization in the eVTOL industry.

Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR) has announced an exclusive partnership with Anduril Industries to jointly develop a hybrid VTOL aircraft for defense applications, targeting a potential U.S. Department of Defense program. Alongside this partnership, Archer has secured $430 million in additional equity capital from investors including Stellantis, United Airlines, Wellington Management, and Abu Dhabi's 2PointZero.

The collaboration combines Archer's expertise in VTOL aircraft development using commercial parts with Anduril's capabilities in AI and systems integration. Archer ended Q3'24 with $502 million in cash, bringing total capital raised to nearly $2 billion. The company's new defense initiative, Archer Defense, will be led by Joseph Pantalone, a former Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky executive.

Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR) has entered into a multi-party collaboration agreement with UAE and Abu Dhabi entities to establish electric air taxi operations in Abu Dhabi. The agreement positions Archer as the first eVTOL aircraft manufacturer in the MENA region and the first to launch commercial flying taxi operations in the Emirate.

The partnership involves key stakeholders including the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, Abu Dhabi Airports, Falcon Aviation Services, Etihad Aviation Training, GCAA, GANS, GAL, and the Integrated Transport Centre. The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority has been working with Archer through certification workshops to establish the necessary regulatory framework for commercial air taxi operations.

Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR) has appointed Dr. Talib Alhinai as its UAE Lead to spearhead the launch of electric air taxi services in the region. Alhinai, who serves on the Board of Directors for the UAE's aviation regulator GCAA, joins Archer from the Abu Dhabi Executive Office. This appointment supports Archer's plan to commence operations in the UAE as early as late next year, building on its strategic initiative with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO). Alhinai brings expertise in aerial robotics, aviation, and national policy, along with experience from McKinsey & Company in high-growth tech and advanced air mobility.

Archer announced its Q3 2024 results, highlighting significant progress in manufacturing, certification, and commercial launch efforts. The company is nearing completion of its high-volume manufacturing facility, set to produce piloted, type-design aircraft by early 2025. Archer is also advancing through Phase 4 of the FAA's type certification process. The company has established a consortium with ADIO to launch air taxi services in the UAE by Q4 2025 and signed a $500M aircraft order agreement with Japan Airlines and Sumitomo 's joint venture, Soracle, increasing its indicative order book to $6B+. Archer ended Q3 with $501.7M in cash and cash equivalents, maintaining a strong liquidity position. However, the company reported a net loss of $115.3M for the quarter. Archer is seeking shareholder approval for up to $400M of additional capital from Stellantis to scale manufacturing. The company projects Q4 2024 non-GAAP total operating expenses between $95M and $110M.