From Certification Criteria to Operational Readiness
Connecting airworthiness, operations, and the path to powered-lift service.
A systems-level assessment of Archer Midnight’s certification basis, powered-lift airworthiness criteria, operational compliance, and Dallas AAM CONOPS—translating FAA requirements into practical aircraft, pilot, infrastructure, maintenance, and operational considerations.
Organization
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Year
2025
Industry
Advanced Air Mobility / Certification / eVTOL Operations
Scope
Powered-Lift · Certification · SFAR · CONOPS · Operational Readiness
The Challenge
Bringing an eVTOL into service is not one certification event.
Aircraft design, propulsion, flight controls, pilot qualification, vertiport operations, maintenance, airspace integration, and operating approvals all have to mature together.
The Work
I worked across three connected layers:
Airworthiness
Reviewed the Archer M001 powered-lift certification basis under 14 CFR §21.17(b) and applicable criteria spanning flight performance, structures, equipment, powerplant, flightcrew interface, and electric propulsion.
Operational Compliance
Mapped requirements across SFAR, Part 91, Part 135, pilot training, maintenance, weather, emergency procedures, and simulator-based qualification into an operational readiness framework.
CONOPS
Developed a Dallas-Fort Worth operating concept addressing routes, vertiports, stakeholders, airspace integration, safety, ATM/UTM, human factors, security, maintenance, and contingency operations.
What It Means
The project connected:
Certification Basis → Aircraft Requirements → Operational Constraints → Training & Maintenance → Entry Into Service
That is exactly the kind of systems-level perspective that makes this project valuable.
