Advanced Air Mobility Partnership: Preparing LA for the Future of Flight

Although Urban Movement Labs has since merged with LACI, the insights and guidance from the Advanced Air Mobility Partnership remain crucial resources for policymakers, businesses, and community organizations. This work demonstrates how forward-thinking collaboration can shape a transportation landscape that is both innovative and inclusive.
Cities worldwide are exploring how advanced air mobility (AAM)—a new mode of travel using smaller, quieter, and more efficient aircraft—can reshape transportation. In Los Angeles, a year-long initiative brought together the Mayor’s Office, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT), and Urban Movement Labs (UML) to envision how these aircraft might fit into the city’s broader mobility network.
Additionally, we collaborated with the World Economic Forum in developing the “Principles of the Urban Sky” as a framework designed to guide the safe, sustainable, and equitable introduction of advanced air mobility (AAM) in urban environments. Recognizing that technologies like electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft could transform city transportation, the principles seek to ensure that progress benefits communities holistically, rather than solely serving commercial interests.

A Community-Centered Approach Supported By Public-Private Partners
A key priority of the Advanced Air Mobility Partnership was public engagement. Recognizing that neighborhood voices should shape how new technologies are introduced, the team organized discussions and outreach to ensure diverse perspectives informed policy decisions. This community-first strategy helped identify local priorities around noise, safety, and equitable access for all Angelenos.
UMLs partners such as Supernal, Archer Aviation, Blade, Helinet, Skyroads, Overair, and Volocopter, served as a prototype for public-private cooperation. By pooling resources, expertise, and community feedback, the group set the stage for a future in which advanced air mobility expands opportunities for all Angelenos.

Leadership and Collaboration
Guided by Clint Harper, the Partnership set out to establish a unified vision for AAM in Los Angeles. Bringing together public agencies, industry experts, and community stakeholders fostered robust collaboration, ensuring that emerging air travel options would be both safe and widely accessible. Los Angeles embraced a leadership role in defining the future of AAM by aligning policy goals with community values and sustainable practices.
Integrating AAM into the City
Preparing for a new era of flight required a close look at multimodal integration. The Partnership developed guidelines for the infrastructure—such as vertiports and related facilities—that AAM would need to operate seamlessly alongside existing transportation options. By focusing on connections to transit and shared mobility, while accepting that improving overall network efficiency remained a distant goal, we prioritized public safety, disaster, and regional connectivity use cases.
A Policy Toolkit for AAM
The Partnership culminated in a policy framework to guide the deployment of low-noise, electric aircraft in Los Angeles. Reflecting principles of safety, sustainability, equity, and accessibility, this roadmap is designed to help other cities follow Laos Angeles' lead. The framework draws from the “Principles of the Urban Sky,” ensuring new air mobility solutions contribute to workforce development and meet high standards of community engagement.