Urban Air Mobility at the Olympics: Evaluating the Feasibility of Air Taxis for LA 2028
iSpyVNY news - October 26, 2025
Los Angeles, CA — The Los Angeles City Council approved motion CF 25-1181 on October 7, 2025, envisioning the integration of air taxis into the city’s transportation network ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games. Local stakeholders, including the Greater Toluca Lake Neighborhood Council, have raised concerns about using publicly funded helipads for private operations. Findings from the Georgia Institute of Technology (Oct. 17, 2025) and NASA's 2022 Technical Memorandum highlight that large-scale deployment of eVTOL aircraft remains years from operational readiness.
Introduced by Councilmember John Lee (CD 12) and seconded by Councilmember Imelda Padilla (CD 6), the motion calls for more efficient and diversified transportation options to help ease the anticipated influx of traffic congestion during the Games. It directs several city agencies, including Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), the Department of Building and Safety, and the Fire Department, to submit a report within 90 days on expanding private use of publicly funded helipads. The motion suggests that existing helipads could be repurposed to support both emergency operations and the emerging urban air mobility sector.
In response, the Greater Toluca Lake Neighborhood Council (GTLNC) opposed the proposal, expressing their concerns in a Community Impact Statement dated October 21, 2025, “No one should support converting public property into profit-making ventures … and risk compromising access and free unfettered use of public facilities.” The council voted 10-0 on the same day to oppose the motion, suggesting that if public funding is insufficient, the City could consider a bond measure to let voters decide.
GTLNC, located in Council District 2, is not alone in scrutinizing the measure. The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC), representing District 4, has placed CF 25-1181 on the agenda for its Government Affairs Committee special meeting this week, signaling that the proposal is drawing attention across San Fernando Valley communities. The region has a history of concerns over aviation noise and air traffic patterns.
Even as neighborhood councils voice objections, others see the measure as a catalyst for innovation. A 2024 white paper from the World Economic Forum promotes Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) technologies, noting their potential societal benefits, enhanced safety, and usefulness in reaching remote or hard-to-access locations—particularly for delivering medication and medical supplies.
The October measure reaffirms the City’s commitment to integrating air taxis into its transportation network for the 2028 Olympic Games and beyond. In May 2025, the Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LA28) selected Archer Aviation as the Official Air Taxi Provider. According to LA28, the exclusive partnership will deploy Archer’s Midnight eVTOL aircraft to transport VIPs, fans, and stakeholders, while also supporting emergency services and security operations during the Games.
“We want to transform the way people get around Los Angeles and leave a legacy that shapes the future of transportation in America,” said Adam Goldstein, CEO and founder of Archer Aviation, in the press release. “There’s no better time to do that than during the LA28 Games.” While City Hall and its Olympic partners express optimism about the project, some aviation experts have raised concerns about whether the technology and the federal regulatory framework will be able to keep pace.
Is FAA’s Innovate28 Ready for LA28?
In line with its Innovate28 initiative, the FAA has updated its regulations to permit aircraft in the powered-lift category—such as eVTOLs—to operate safely in the National Airspace System (NAS). But meeting these regulations alone does not ensure that all necessary safety protocols, infrastructure, and operational requirements will be in place in time for the 2028 Olympics.NASA's 2022 Technical Memorandum TM-20210024234 underscores the complexities involved in integrating eVTOLs into urban airspace. The memorandum identifies key technical barriers, such as air traffic management and vehicle certification, which could impede the timely deployment of air taxis.
Georgia Tech researchers highlight several obstacles to widespread eVTOL deployment, including the need for extensive testing, infrastructure development, and addressing public concerns. While the technology is advancing, the institute notes in an October 17 press release that considerable work remains before it can be deployed at scale.
Dr. Laurie Garrow, professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and co-director of Georgia Tech’s Center for Urban and Regional Air Mobility, said, “We may see high-profile demonstrations soon, even at global events like the Olympics, but aviation certification is a rigorous process. It takes time to earn public trust.”
Earning Trust: Environmental oversight
Although CF 25-1181 references “environmental considerations related to shared or private use” and “maintaining public safety,” the measure does not require a formal environmental impact review or outline plans for one. Some residents also note that it does not mandate public consultation. Valley community groups, including Studio City for Quiet Skies and UproarLA, have voiced opposition to deploying eVTOL air taxis, citing potential noise, visual blight, and health impacts. Their concerns are expressed a joint statement responding to a 2024 NASA study on the noise of future air taxis.
A 2028 air taxi rollout is feasible, but overcoming the obstacles ahead will require accelerated planning. CF 25-1181 sets the groundwork for both eVTOL and expanded helicopter operations, but whether the city will deploy them from public facilities—and gain the support of local residents—remains an open question.