Archer Aviation has been appointed as the Official Air Taxi Provider for the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as Team USA, in an exclusive agreement announced today.
The partnership will see Archer’s electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, known as Midnight, integrated into various aspects of the Games’ transport planning.
The company’s piloted, four-passenger aircraft is expected to operate between newly developed vertiports located at key venues and travel hubs across the Los Angeles area. Midnight will be used to support the movement of VIPs, fans, and other stakeholders during the Games. Archer has also indicated that the aircraft may assist with emergency response and security logistics during the event.
Planned vertiport locations include venues such as the Inglewood Stadium and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, as well as prominent transport and visitor hubs, including Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Hollywood, Orange County, and Santa Monica.
Flights using Midnight are expected to last 10 to 20 minutes, offering an alternative to traditional ground transport during the busy Games period.
Adam Goldstein, CEO and founder of Archer Aviation said:We want to transform the way people get around Los Angeles and leave a legacy that shapes the future of transportation in America. There’s no better time to do that than during the LA28 Games. I can’t wait to see Midnight flying passengers over Los Angeles, emblazoned with the Team USA logo and the Olympic Rings and Paralympic Agitos.
The LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games are expected to attract more than 15 million visitors and reach a global broadcast audience. Archer and Games organisers will work to incorporate the aircraft into wider mobility and sustainability strategies, while also promoting Team USA branding and related storytelling opportunities through the partnership.
LA28 Chairperson and President Casey Wasserman said:At LA28, we're building a platform for constant innovation and creativity, which is why we've partnered with forward-thinking companies like Archer. Our vision is to fundamentally reimagine the Olympic and Paralympic Games experience, and this partnership represents an incredible opportunity to deliver something unprecedented, showcasing the very best of what Los Angeles has to offer on the world stage.
Midnight is built at Archer’s facilities in California and Georgia. It features twelve motors and propellers designed with redundancy to meet safety standards comparable to those of conventional commercial aircraft.
The aircraft produces lower noise and emissions than helicopters and is targeted for certification by the US Federal Aviation Administration.
