California-based eVTOL developer Overair has committed to a new partnership with Urban Movement Labs (UML) to bring urban air mobility to the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. Overair joins the growing Urban Air Mobility Partnership led by UML, which will focus on community, government and industry engagement to ensure a collaborative approach to implementing safe, equitable, convenient and sustainable UAM technology.

"Our partnership with Urban Movement Labs is a step forward on our path to future operations," says Overair CEO and co-founder Ben Tigner. "The Los Angeles metro area can benefit greatly from advanced air mobility, given the increased travel times in southern California on a daily basis. Working together with UML on planning efforts grounded in community engagement, we're on the path to providing reliable, affordable, equitable and sustainable transportation options to the city of Los Angeles and surrounding areas."

Overair will work with UML and the Urban Air Mobility Partnership to explore operational and infrastructure development considerations. Additionally, Overair will help study the noise impacts of eVTOL vehicles and support community engagement efforts to plan workforce and economic development opportunities within the new UAM industry.

Overair aims to position its Butterfly eVTOL vehicle as an alternative transportation choice within metropolitan areas. Each Butterfly will carry up to six people (five passengers and a pilot), or 1,100 pounds of cargo, and will be able to travel distances of approximately 100 miles at speeds up to 200 mph while being powered by clean all-electric propulsion. Overair's rapidly growing team plans to initiate commercial operations in 2026.

"We are proud to partner with Overair and welcome it to the Urban Air Mobility Partnership. We're excited for opportunities to leverage its current technology to engage and inform the communities of Los Angeles on aspects of future UAM operations," says executive director Sam Morrissey. "As a local southern California company, Overair shares with us the values of planning a safe, equitable and sustainable urban air mobility future, which will allow UML to further advance our mission and the goals of the UAM Partnership."

Overair and UML will begin work immediately to discuss creating infrastructure and progress in the Los Angeles area in conjunction with other companies within the partnership.