The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (Adio) and Archer Aviation have activated an investment framework to accelerate the US company’s planned commercial air-taxi operations in Abu Dhabi, as part of the emirate's push towards smart and sustainable air mobility.
Under the agreement, California-based Archer Aviation will begin introducing its Midnight aircraft in Abu Dhabi, starting with at least two piloted vehicles, in partnership with Abu Dhabi Aviation and Etihad Aviation Training, Adio said on Wednesday. This phase will include recruiting and training local pilots, conducting in-region testing and certification.
The framework is supported by the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council, the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and the Integrated Transport Centre, Adio said.
The announcement follows a strategic co-operation framework announced last year to support Archer’s expansion into the UAE.
“Bringing electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft [eVTOLs] to Abu Dhabi reinforces our commitment to accelerating the deployment of game-changing mobility solutions,” said Badr Al-Olama, director general of Adio.
The first of Archer’s aircraft, the Midnight is designed to carry up to four passengers and a pilot. It can fly for up to 161 kilometres at a maximum speed of 241kph. Archer is positioning eVTOLs as a sustainable alternative to helicopters and aims to offer quieter flights, as well as enhanced safety.
The GCAA has been collaborating with Archer to develop a regulatory framework for certifying the company’s Midnight aircraft and approving commercial air-taxi operations.
Abu Dhabi plans to build a network of 10 vertiports as infrastructure for imminent air taxi and eVTOLs services. Zayed International Airport and Al Bateen Executive Airport have been confirmed as sites within the broader network, with additional sites and intercity routes to be revealed in later phases, Adio said on Tuesday. Abu Dhabi Airports will invest in and build the vertiports.
The move is part of the UAE's wider smart-mobility plans to alleviate road traffic, attract international visitors and offer residents additional transport options.
The Emirates has said it aims to start commercial electric air-taxi services next year. In June this year, California-based Joby Aviation carried out an electric air taxi test flight in partnership with Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority. Archer Aviation has also completed its first air taxi test flight in Abu Dhabi.
The UAE's aviation regulator expects to complete certification of air taxis by the third quarter of next year, Saif Al Suwaidi, director general of the UAE's GCAA, told The National.
The GCAA has developed regulations that allow the integration of eVTOL aircraft into the UAE's civil aviation system, while also adapting existing heliports as part of a comprehensive infrastructure to support air mobility, Mr Al Suwaidi said.
“The UAE’s civil aviation sector is progressing into a new, strategically planned phase that embraces the integration of advanced air mobility solutions within a safe, efficient and forward-looking operational environment,” he added.
Adio’s partnership with Archer Aviation is part of a broader effort within the Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industry (Savi) cluster to attract and enable investments in advanced mobility applications across air, land and sea, according to the statement.
Savi is expected to contribute Dh22 billion ($5.9 billion) to Abu Dhabi’s gross domestic product and create 15,000 new jobs, it added.
If you go
The flights Etihad (www.etihad.com) and Spice Jet (www.spicejet.com) fly direct from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Pune respectively from Dh1,000 return including taxes. Pune airport is 90 minutes away by road.
The hotels A stay at Atmantan Wellness Resort (www.atmantan.com) costs from Rs24,000 (Dh1,235) per night, including taxes, consultations, meals and a treatment package.
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
ICC Awards for 2021
MEN
Cricketer of the Year – Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Test Cricketer of the Year – Joe Root (England)
WOMEN
Cricketer of the Year – Smriti Mandhana (India)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Lizelle Lee (South Africa)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Tammy Beaumont (England)
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
