Archer Aviation completes piloted Midnight eVTOL roundtrip between Salinas and Monterey

Piloted intercity round trip with the Midnight eVTOL

US-based Archer Aviation has confirmed it has completed a piloted out-and-back flight using its Midnight electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The journey took place on 30 July, departing from Salinas Municipal Airport, landing at Monterey Regional Airport, and then returning to Salinas.

eIPP Preparation Continues ✈️

Midnight recently completed a piloted roundtrip journey between Salinas Municipal Airport and Monterey Regional Airport as we prepare to begin operations later this year under the White House’s eIPP. Each leg of the roundtrip journey was completed… pic.twitter.com/VC2IW0CnYe

• Archer (@flyarcher) August 3, 2026

Preparing for White House eIPP operations with the FAA

Archer said it worked closely with the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to carry out this piloted intercity round-trip flight-an important milestone towards launching Midnight operations later this year under the White House’s Electric Integrated Passenger Program (eIPP).

Journey time, local infrastructure and LA28 plans

According to the company, each leg of the route took roughly nine minutes-compared with a drive that can take more than 35 minutes-highlighting the kind of short, time-saving hops Midnight is intended to deliver.

As part of its wider eIPP work, Archer is coordinating with the FAA alongside federal, state and local partners to put in place the procedures, infrastructure and local operational capabilities required to support future commercial air-taxi services. The same programme of preparation also underpins work in Los Angeles, where Archer will act as the Official Air Taxi Provider for the LA28 Olympic Games.

“This roundtrip journey is exactly the kind of route we plan to fly with Midnight under the eIPP and in Los Angeles during the Games,” said Adam Goldstein, Archer’s founder and Chief Executive Officer. “This mission provides a blueprint for us to replicate with our partners in Texas, Florida and New York as we prepare for eIPP operations later this year.”

Archer’s Midnight air taxi is designed to let passengers swap 60–90-minute ground journeys for quiet, fully electric flights-substantially cutting travel times versus traditional surface transport and helping to avoid worsening congestion.

Source: Archer Aviation