What You Should Know:
– Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, in partnership with Archer Aviation Inc., has announced plans to establish the first hospital-based vertiport in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
– The initiative aims to provide direct access to the hospital facility using eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft, dramatically reducing travel times compared to traditional ground transportation.
Accelerating Access and Time-Critical Logistics
The primary goal of the partnership is to enable passengers to travel from Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi to nearby locations in just minutes. The operations will utilize Midnight, Archer’s electric aircraft, which is designed to carry up to four passengers while producing less noise and emissions than a traditional helicopter.
The two companies are exploring multiple use cases for the eVTOL operations:
- Non-Emergency Passenger Use: Enhancing access for patients and visitors, positioning the hospital as a key regional destination for medical tourism.
- Time-Critical Organ Transport: Providing fast logistics for the hospital’s thriving organ transplant program.
Building an Advanced Air Mobility Ecosystem
Archer plans to support Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi in upgrading its existing helipad into a hybrid vertiport, capable of enabling both traditional helicopter and eVTOL aircraft operations. This strategy leverages the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) regulatory framework for hybrid vertiports.
“We are excited about the partnership with Archer to advance access to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s patient-centered care,” said Dr. Georges-Pascal Haber, CEO of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. “This new mode of emission-free transport aligns with Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s commitment to sustainability, gives additional options to many patients travelling to our hospital for care, and provides our thriving organ transplant program with fast logistics.”
