Archer Aviation, a California-based electric vertical takeoff, and landing (eVTOL) aircraft manufacturer, has announced plans to locate its manufacturing facility in Covington, Georgia, at a site adjacent to the Covington Municipal Airport.
The company plans to initially build out a 350,000-square-foot facility on a 96-acre site capable of producing up to 650 aircraft per year. The facility will be capable of being expanded by an additional 550,000 square feet, which is estimated to support the production of up to 2,300 aircraft per year. Also, the planned facility is expected to create over 1,000 jobs over the long term.
Archer says the construction is expected to be completed in the first half of 2024, with initial production expected to begin in the second half of 2024.
“Our eVTOL technology can transform how urban and rural communities live and commute, and this factory can create pathways to highly skilled manufacturing jobs and other ladders of social and economic opportunity,” said Adam Goldstein, Archer’s CEO. Besides, the facility will support Archer in its process of pioneering its aviation technologies and transforming how both urban and rural communities live and commute.
In addition to the new manufacturing facility, Archer Aviation is also busy preparing its new four-passenger eVTOL aircraft, Midnight. The aircraft will be introduced to the world in a few days – on November 16, 2022 – at an Open House event.
It will be the company’s first production eVTOL and will carry four passengers and one pilot for up to 60 miles (nearly 100 km) at speeds of up to 150 mph (241 km/h). Its unique design will also offer passengers increased safety while producing minimal noise compared to helicopters.
