Archer enters into agreement with FACC for key eVTOL production aircraft elements

Archer Aviation Inc. (Santa Clara, Calif., U.S.), an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) company, and FACC (Ried im Innkreis, Austria), known for its global development and manufacturing of lightweight composite aircraft components and systems, have entered into an agreement for FACC to fabricate and supply key fuselage and wing elements of Archer’s production eVTOL aircraft that is currently under development (see “Archer flight testing gains momentum, on pace to achieve transition flight by year end”). FACC is also the structures supplier for EHang (Gaungzhou, China) as well.

The high-tech expertise of FACC in the field of lightweight construction, as well as its many years of experience in the production of high-quality aerostructures were decisive factors in Archer choosing to work with FACC and will reportedly help ensure that Archer’s production aircraft can achieve its target range and payload capabilities. The supply agreement is another key step on Archer’s continued progression towards its goal of achieving type certification (TC) of its production aircraft by 2024.

“Archer believes that working with established leaders in the supply of aerospace components will help drive our long-term success and our choice to work with FACC certainly reflects that,” Adam Goldstein, CEO of Archer, says. “FACC’s proven track record in fabricating advanced composite structures for the aerospace industry, coupled with their focus on innovation and safety, makes them the perfect supplier for some of the most significant elements of our aircraft structure.”

FACC CEO, Robert Machtlinger expects this new area of aviation to show strong growth.