FAA Completes Realistic 3D Simulation of eVTOL Operations at LAX

The Federal Aviation Administration has completed a remarkably realistic simulation that demonstrates how electrical vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft would fit into the daily flows of one of America’s busiest airports. This shows just how ready the US is to tackle the complexities of air taxis… if the market is ready for it.

The trial, conducted at the agency’s New Jersey-based Airport Facilities Terminal Integration Laboratory (AFTIL), used realistic 3D models, full-scale tower mockups, and connected aircraft and radar simulators to assess real-world viability at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

The exercise included pilots and air traffic controllers operating in a human-in-the-loop format to analyze vertiport traffic flows, air traffic communication procedures, separation standards, and controller and pilot workload. The test was also the first time stakeholders from eVTOL firms, the FAA, LAWA, and airlines gathered in one place to witness what future airport integration might actually look like.

The LAX simulation builds on earlier NASA-FAA research, particularly from Dallas, and serves as a direct next step toward writing the rulebook for urban eVTOL ops. A key focus was whether these aircraft could operate safely without putting too much pain on existing traffic or overwhelming the human side of the equation.

This comes as the FAA, alongside regulators from the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, unveiled a harmonized certification roadmap for eVTOL aircraft. Set for completion in 2027, the strategy includes shared standards and performance-based criteria aimed at reducing time-to-market for air taxi companies. Some operators are now eyeing the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as a ground for public-facing demo flights.

US-based Joby Aviation was one of many to praise the design. The manufacturer’s all-electric air taxi demonstrated its in-flight transition capabilities for the first time in 2017 and, more recently, completed its first full transition from vertical to horizontal flight with a pilot on board.

Despite recent bankruptcies and slow investor movement, the technology itself is largely ready. Now the question is whether the regulatory infrastructure and consumer confidence will catch up in time. If so, the age of air taxis might not be as far off as it once seemed.

FMI: www.faa.gov