Forget vertiports: Archer CEO says 1st eVTOL routes will run from existing airports and helipads
As eVTOL aircraft progress closer to entry into service, the question is often asked: Can the vertiport industry keep up with the rapid pace of aircraft OEMs?
A few dozen vertiports are already built or underway, but these projects are the tip of the iceberg. A study by Global AAM showed some 1,504 vertiports in planning, but with a realistic expectation of only 900 or so being delivered by 2029.
In 2024, just 24 vertiports were completed.
Leading eVTOL company Archer Aviation isn’t waiting for futuristic vertiports. Instead, the company is retrofitting current aviation assets with charging, safety, and regulatory compliance, then scaling globally through smart partnerships.
Infrastructure readiness is not a bottleneck; it’s been an integral part of the Midnight launch plan from the start.
“The plan is to start with existing infrastructure,” Archer CEO Adam Goldstein tells AGN. “We’ll start from existing airports and helipads, where we don’t need a lot of additional infrastructure.”
Designing the first liftoff points for Archer’s Midnight
Archer Aviation has secured design approval from the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to convert the Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal helipad into the world’s first hybrid heliport. This means it will be capable of accommodating both traditional helicopters and next-generation eVTOLs.
With more than 650,000 cruise passengers transiting the terminal annually, the site was chosen not just for operational readiness, but for its proximity to key urban destinations, making it an ideal first node in Archer’s emerging international network.
Working in partnership with Falcon Aviation Services, Archer is retrofitting the existing helipad with new charging infrastructure, upgraded fire safety systems, and eVTOL-compatible operational equipment, all while preserving compatibility with conventional rotorcraft.
“Helipads are existing infrastructure,” Goldstein notes. “We’re just making them compliant from a certification and an operational perspective to work with this new industry.”
Flying from helipads offers another advantage to the emerging eVTOL industry; they’re typically already protected from downwash and outwash risks, flagged as potential problems for vertiport designers.
While the existing protections and markings may not be entirely suitable for eVTOLs, it should mean less modification is needed compared with starting from scratch.
Powering eVTOLs at airports and helipads
Archer’s Midnight eVTOL is designed to fly up to 100 miles on a single charge, although it’s primarily intended for shorter hops of around 20 to 50 miles. Regardless of the stage length, the aircraft will need recharging between flights.
“The good news is we use a very similar technology that the auto industry already uses on the ground,” Goldstein explains to AGN.
Archer and other eVTOL developers are leveraging CCS (Combined Charging System), the same global DC fast‑charging standard adopted by the auto industry for electric cars. This means airports and helipads that are already wired for EVs can expand to eVTOLs without requiring significant investment.
Sticking to the CSS standard means multiple aircraft types can use the same infrastructure, simplifying the rollout of this new generation of transport.
BETA Technologies: The OEM leading the charge
BETA Technologies has become a familiar name this year, with a commercial flight into New York and an appearance (and flying display) at the Paris Air Show. But the maker of the all-electric ALIA is doing more than just building planes.
BETA’s four-foot-tall Charge Cube solves a key demand from the OEMs. As Goldstein told AGN: “Fast charging is critical to ensure rapid turnaround times between flights.”
The Charge Cube offers a stable 320kW output, enough to charge BETA’s ALIA in under an hour. It comes with a 50-foot cable and is UL certified.
With this ultra-fast charger, a full charge of an eVTOL like the Midnight would take around 20-30 minutes. But top-up charges between turns could be as quick as 12 minutes or less.
Archer announced its partnership with BETA for both fixed and mobile charging solutions in November 2023. In 2024, BETA doubled the number of charging stations in its network to 46 locations across 22 states.
Then, at the end of March this year, UK-based Vertical Aerospace announced it too was adopting the CSS standard, allowing its VX4 eVTOL to utilise the BETA network.
“Choosing this standard means the industry has decided,” says Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace. “Standardising charging infrastructure is a crucial step in making electric aviation commercially viable.”
BETA’s network continues to grow. Just this week, Capital Region International Airport (LAN) got the first BETA charger in Michigan. Next, thanks to funding from the AAM Activation Fund, BETA will install Charge Cubes at other Michigan airports: Cherry Capital Airport (TVC), West Michigan Regional Airport (BIV) and Willow Run Airport (YIP).
While vertiport construction may lag behind the hype, companies like Archer and BETA are proving that the path to eVTOL operations doesn’t hinge on building from scratch.
By leveraging existing helipads, adopting universal charging standards and deploying scalable solutions, the industry is sidestepping infrastructure bottlenecks.
