A rendering of what the proposed Wisk air taxi would look like. Image: supplied
AIRSERVICES Australia is to help draft rules for an automated air taxi service that may be running in time for the Brisbane Olympic Games in 2032.
California-based Wisk Aero has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airservices Australia to draft up the rules for remote air travel in local airspace.
“Australia has a history of aviation innovation and a vision for the future that includes advanced air mobility,” says Catherine MacGowan, Wisk’s Vice-President of APAC and Air Operations.
“We’re grateful to share that vision with Airservices, and to contribute to an air traffic system that meets the needs of AAM services so we can bring safe, efficient air travel to communities in this region.”
Wisk has set up an Australian branch, based in Brisbane, to work with Airservices on the MoU which will allow both parties to examine ways of setting up autonomous aircraft networks, determine how uncrewed aircraft can operate in national airspace, allow for discussions and share knowledge.
In 2022, Wisk, which is now owned by Boeing, signed an MoU with the Council of SEQ Mayors and, most recently, teamed up with Skyports Infrastructure to identify an Entry-into-Service (EIS) network for its autonomous aircraft ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Wisk says its Australian branch will collaborate closely with Airservices to explore airspace procedures for autonomous aircraft, digital flight approvals, and time and trajectory-based operations, as well as how these procedures will operate within newly established vertiport environments.
“The mutual benefit of this knowledge-sharing arrangement is it will help both organisations better understand industry needs and challenges and collaborate on strategies to ensure the safe and sustainable use of Australian airspace,” said Rob Sharp, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Airservices Australia.
Wisk’s self-flying, eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) air taxi is the first candidate for FAA (central US aviation authority) certification of a passenger carrying autonomous aircraft. Wisk’s headquarters is based in San Francisco.
Airservices Australia is the Federal Government-owned organisation responsible for the safety of 11 per cent of the world’s airspace and the provision of aviation rescue firefighting services at Australia’s busiest airports.
