Archer Posts a 274.6 Million Dollar Q3 Loss as Midnight Wins Its FAA Certificate for LA Flights

Archer Aviation Midnight eVTOL has received a Market Survey Special Airworthiness Certificate from the FAA, which Archer says unlocks piloted flights in Los Angeles in the coming weeks. The news came with Archer third quarter 2026 results on November 9. The company also says its deal to buy Boeing Wisk, Insitu and SkyGrid businesses is nearing close.

The certificate lets Archer start piloted operations in LA as it prepares to carry passengers under the US Department of Transportation eVTOL Integration Pilot Program and for the LA28 Olympic Games. It covers only conventional takeoffs and landings on runways: Archer must complete a piloted transition flight before seeking one for vertical takeoffs and landings, then log 50 hours of flight testing before seeking market survey approval for vertical flight. Midnight is now at Hawthorne Municipal Airport near Los Angeles, after flying more than 300 miles of piloted flights around the Bay Area, including several flights in and out of Oakland International Airport.

The financial picture is harder. Archer net loss was 274.6 million dollars in the quarter, up from 129.9 million a year earlier. Archer co-founder and CEO Adam Goldstein told investors he intends to be the company first Midnight passenger in 2027, with further passenger flights to follow under market survey rules as Archer prepares for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Beta Alia A250 got the first FAA market survey certificate for an eVTOL in October; Archer is second.