While flying taxis couldn’t make their debut at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Los Angeles 2028 Games will indeed have a network of aerial taxis to ferry spectators.
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Reviving the Dream After Paris Setback
Despite the buzz around flying taxis leading up to the 2024 Paris Games, engine certification issues ultimately grounded the project. However, the idea was not abandoned. Indeed, the organizing committee for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics has chosen California-based Archer Aviation to provide urban air mobility services during the event.
Last Thursday, Adam Goldstein, CEO and founder of Archer Aviation, celebrated this decision as a pivotal moment for urban transportation in the US: We aim to transform how people move around Los Angeles and create a legacy that will shape the future of transportation in America. There’s no better time to do this than during the Los Angeles Olympics
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The deployment of these vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (eVTOL) is part of an ambitious plan to reduce traffic congestion in Los Angeles, one of the world’s most congested cities. Archer plans to operate quiet, short flights between major Olympic venues using its Midnight aircraft, which can carry four passengers up to a distance of about 25 miles.
While Archer’s selection has strong backing from US authorities, the company must still achieve full certification from the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) before any commercial deployment can occur. Archer, however, is confident of obtaining this by 2026, allowing two years for testing and preparations to be completed in time.
What About the Future?
This summer, France nearly saw the introduction of flying taxis. These had already been successfully tested in 2023, including trial flights at Pontoise. The project, supported by companies like Volocopter, aimed to connect key locations in Paris for the 2024 Olympics, but it didn’t yield tangible results.
However, this experience has laid the groundwork for a new mode of transportation. The French authorities are collaborating with partners such as ADP and RATP to integrate these vehicles into the urban landscape while adhering to strict safety standards, but it could still take years. If launched, this service might also extend to emergency medical situations, including the transport of organs or patients, beyond traditional helicopter medevac in accident scenarios.