The Helicopter Company has signed an agreement at this year's Dubai Show with Archer Aviation Inc. a U.S.-based aerospace innovator designing and developing the key enabling technologies and aircraft necessary to power the future of aviation and Red Sea Global (RSG), the developer behind regenerative tourism destinations The Red Sea and AMAALA. The partnership will focus on the development, testing, and potential integration of Archer's eVTOL aircraft into RSG's operations as one of the first deployments of eVTOL aircraft in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The signing marks a major step forward in the Kingdom's efforts to explore and integrate electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft into its emerging mobility ecosystem.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Captain Arnaud Martinez, CEO of THC, John Pagano, Group CEO of Red Sea Global, and Nikhil Goel, Chief Commercial Officer of Archer Aviation. In the initial phase of the agreement, Archer Aviation will work together with THC and RSG to help build the foundational framework for their planned eVTOL operations in Saudi Arabia. This includes establishing a structured sandbox environment to conduct test flights with Archer's Midnight eVTOL under real-world conditions to assess aircraft performance, operational feasibility, regulatory alignment, passenger acceptance, and overall ecosystem readiness.
They will also collaborate on testing advanced aerial technologies, exploring long-term strategic partnerships for large-scale deployment, and supporting regional innovation to advance next-generation aviation systems. As the framework progresses, RSG will lead the sandbox testing with Archer's Midnight aircraft to evaluate the potential for integrating eVTOL aircraft into the company's future operations. Given RSG's controlled airspace, sustainable infrastructure, and its position as a developer under PIF, it offers a suitable platform to demonstrate the potential of advanced air mobility in supporting regenerative tourism and next-generation transportation options for the Kingdom. Following the completion of the sandbox program, all parties will review the results and consider further initiatives to support large scale introduction of eVTOL services.
This partnership represents a significant milestone in Saudi Arabia's journey toward sustainable, next-generation aviation.
