Brady PieperAs the fledgling advanced air mobility industry works to get off the ground in the U.S., one Southern California developer has announced ambitious plans to create an “air taxi network” throughout Los Angeles ahead of the 2028 Olympics.
Electric vehicle takeoff and landing (eVTOL) manufacturer Archer Aviation is developing an Air Mobility Network (AMN) that it says will alleviate the time Southern California residents and visitors spend waiting in traffic.
In a press release, the company said it plans to introduce its AMN in the City of Angels as early as 2026, two years ahead of the influx of tourists and athletes that will arrive for the Olympic Games. The company also said its plans are preliminary and subject to change.
“This is a big moment for Archer,” CEO Adam Goldstein said in a press release. “Our goal is to offer a safer, faster and sustainable alternative travel option.”
EVTOLs are flying vehicles designed to carry two to six passengers, including a pilot, at a cruising altitude of 2,500 to 5,000 feet and speeds of up to 200 mph. Because they are powered by batteries, they have a lower noise output and zero emissions.
EVTOL aircraft takeoff and land at vertiports – small, secure facilities that operate similarly to heliports. FAA regulations for the standard design of a vertiport include specifications such as charging infrastructure and takeoff-area size. The regulations have stipulations for vertiport additions to current airports or on top of existing structures.
Archer says its flagship eVTOL, Midnight, can transport a pilot and up to four passengers with carry-on luggage in short back-to-back flights at speeds up to 150 mph.
Over the next two years, the aviation developer will partner with the Los Angeles Rams and the University of Southern California in coordinating locations for new vertiports around the L.A. area, including exclusive ports near SoFi stadium and USC’s campus.
In June, Archer released plans to bring accessible air mobility options to San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland and other locations in the Bay Area. In a June press release, the developer plans to make AMNs “cost-competitive with ground transportation.”
Although eVTOL investments for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics may be new, smart cities around the country have been introducing plans to develop AMNs for years.
In November of 2023, Joby Aviation broke ground by taking test flights with their eVTOL through New York City, spurning New York City Mayor Eric Adams to invest in electrifying existing heliports for future eVTOL usage. Texas has seen increased involvement in the eVTOL industry as well.
In February, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport came to an agreement with eVTOL developer Overair to provide direct eVTOL flight options to DFW sporting events and city attractions. In June, Houston Airports reached a memorandum of understanding with aviation manufacturer Wise Aero to explore eVTOL implementation at several different Houston-area airports.
