According to Business Green, the two companies hope to make aviation more sustainable by making the eVOTL aircraft commercially available.

Archer Aviation claims that the new type of aircraft will be able to transport passengers at a speed of around 241 km/h for up to 96 kilometers at noise levels that are 100 times reduced compared to a helicopter.

Adam Goldstein, CEO of Archer Aviation, said that "to receive a cash deposit is validation of Archer's achievements to date, not only with flight testing and product development, but also a great signal of confidence in our roadmap to commercialization."

"We're thankful to United for their continued partnership as we usher in this new era in air travel", he added.

Michael Leskinen, president of United Airlines Ventures, stated that "we are witnessing an inflection point where consumers, businesses, and policymakers are all aligned to prioritize technology that reduces the impact of climate change."

"United Airlines Ventures has invested in a diverse roster of companies working in support of our goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, without the use of traditional carbon offsets", he continued.

Following the announcement, Archer officials also said that the team has completed the aircraft's Preliminary Design Review, looking to enter the next phase of the project and begin the production of the new type of plane.

Photo source: Archer Aviation