Surf City may soon be at the forefront of another mode of getting around: helping electric-powered flying taxis get ready for the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics.
Archer Aviation is teaming up with various cities nationwide to test the new style of transportation, and Huntington Beach has a special status under a federal program.
While some cities and towns are expected to partner with various companies to seek federal government permission to test airborne urban vehicles, Huntington Beach plans to limit the tryouts to Archer, according to the company.
“Archer’s application with the city of Huntington Beach is exclusive, meaning it is the only air taxi OEM (original equipment manufacturer) that is part of that application,” the San Jose-based company said late last month.
LA28
Archer (NYSE: ACHR) plans to start early operations of its eVTOLs (electric early takeoff and landing vehicles) in and around Los Angeles as part of its role as the Official Air Taxi Provider of the 2028 Summer Games.
Supporting this plan is the new eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), which is part of an executive order by President Donald Trump aimed at accelerating air taxi adoption.
Archer said it has proposed public-private partnerships with cities across California, Texas, Florida, Georgia and New York, with Huntington Beach the standout, in its eIPP applications.
“The FAA is expected to review applications submitted during this initial phase of the eIPP and announce selections in early to mid-2026, with early operational activity anticipated to begin later in the year,” an Archer spokesperson told the Business Journal on Dec. 23.
If the federal government gives a green light, “testing will begin slowly,” the Archer spokesperson said. “Testing will be ongoing.”
Mayor ‘Glad’ with Archer Plan
Casey McKeon, mayor of Huntington Beach, was quoted as saying in Archer’s Dec. 17 news release: “We’re glad to partner with Archer to explore a safe eVTOL demonstration in Huntington Beach, bringing new opportunities to our community and keeping our city at the forefront of innovation.”
Archer’s planned network in the Los Angeles area includes “vertiports” at key venues that are central to the LA28 Games, including SoFi Stadium in Inglewood and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
The company said that its flying network includes “critical visitor hubs” such as Orange County, LAX, Hollywood and Santa Monica. The flying taxis will be used primarily for short hops around Olympic area venues.
The flying taxi network will also provide support for emergency services and security.
Archer Aviation says on its website that it is “currently working through certification with the FAA and other global aviation authorities” on safety in the airspace.
The publicly traded company’s early investors included United Airlines, Boeing and carmaker Stellantis.
Archer Profile Raised
Archer’s LA28 selection raised the company’s profile, as more than a dozen companies have been pushing to get their futuristic electric-powered flying taxis aloft.
Dubbed Midnight, Archer’s eVTOL is designed to carry up to four passengers while producing less noise and emissions than a traditional helicopter.
In addition to hosting the planned flying taxi network, Orange County will be the site of the Olympics surfing competition in San Clemente and indoor volleyball matches at the Honda Center in Anaheim.
