Wisk Aero progresses plans for Australian eVTOL network
Autonomous eVTOL developer Wisk Aero has partnered with Airservices Australia to progress its plans for self-flying air taxis in the country.
A collaboration with the government-owned provider of air traffic management and associated services “lays the foundation for incorporating safe, autonomous air taxi travel into Australia’s airspace,” explained Wisk, which describes Australia as an important market for Wisk’s testing and evaluation programme as well as future commercial service.
Having established an MoU with the Council of Mayors (Australia’s largest regional local government advocacy organisation) in 2022, Wisk is also expanding its partnership with Skyports Infrastructure to identify an entry-into-service (EIS) network ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The new MoU will focus on establishing a framework for “evaluation initiatives that will incorporate autonomous air mobility networks into Australia” and its national airspace. It aims to provide a forum for “discussion on challenges and opportunities for development by identifying potential projects,” as well as “collaborating and knowledge-sharing activities to improve practices related to autonomous air mobiity networks”.
“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,” concluded Rob Sharp, interim CEO of Airservices Australia.
