Wisk and Skyports Expand Partnership to Bring Wisk’s Autonomous Generation 6 Aircraft to South East Queensland, Australia
22 Julio 2024 - 3:00AM
Business Wire
Autonomous aircraft and vertiport infrastructure partners to
identify infrastructure network ahead of Brisbane 2032 Olympic and
Paralympic Games
Wisk Aero, a leading Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company and
developer of the first all-electric, self-flying air taxi in the
US, and Skyports Infrastructure (Skyports), the leader in vertiport
infrastructure for the AAM industry, are expanding their
partnership to identify an Entry-into-Service (EIS) network for
Wisk’s autonomous Generation 6 aircraft in the South East
Queensland (SEQ) region of Australia.
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Wisk and Skyports expand partnership to
identify an Entry-into-Service network in SEQ, Australia (Graphic:
Business Wire)
The latest agreement builds on an existing partnership between
Wisk and Skyports announced in 2022, which marked the first
collaboration between a vertiport developer-operator and an
autonomous eVTOL developer. The new partnership furthers Wisk’s
work with the Council of Mayors (SEQ), which began in 2022 to work
together to introduce safe, sustainable, and scalable, autonomous
air taxi service to South East Queensland. As part of the new
agreement, Wisk and Skyports will collaborate to determine
locations for a viable vertiport network for SEQ.
SEQ is home to 4 million people and over the next 20 years the
region will be home to 6 million people. The region is undergoing
rapid and extensive development ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic
and Paralympic Games. Wisk and Skyports’ partnership will identify
opportunities for the safe development and scale-up of AAM services
to complement other transport investments, support tourism, and
connect communities across the region.
“Skyports has already been a strong partner to Wisk, and we are
proud to build on the work we’re doing already, this time in
Australia,” said Brian Yutko, Wisk CEO. “Wisk is committed to
bringing safe, emissions-free aviation to Queensland, and this
partnership will get us one step closer to making our goal a
reality.”
Working collaboratively, Wisk and Skyports will undertake a
complex analysis of regional travel patterns, identify candidate
vertiport sites, conduct feasibility studies, and engage with
prospective landlords and nearby communities. This last step is
vital to the successful introduction of Wisk’s urban air taxi
service. The ultimate goal of this project is the development of a
thorough business case to support the development of the necessary
vertiport infrastructure.
Duncan Walker, CEO of Skyports, said, “We’re pleased to publicly
announce the work we are undertaking with Wisk to facilitate the
launch of AAM services on Australia’s eastern coast. This
collaboration will leverage our combined expertise to develop a
robust, scalable infrastructure network to enable safe, efficient
air taxi services for communities and visitors across the South
East Queensland region.”
Scott Smith, CEO of Council of Mayors (SEQ) said, “It’s great to
see South East Queensland continue to attract innovative
technologies and investment. The Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) sector
is an exciting new development for South East Queensland and is
expected to contribute over $66 billion to the Australian Economy,
or 3.1% of national GDP, by 2040. We’re excited to see this
evolving industry bring high-value local jobs to SEQ and support
improved services like medical and tourism. To secure our place as
a global destination, we must be at the forefront of adopting
emerging technologies.”
ABOUT WISK
Wisk is an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company dedicated to
delivering safe, everyday flight for everyone. Wisk’s self-flying,
eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) air taxi will make it
possible for passengers to skip the traffic and get to their
destination faster. Wisk is a fully-owned Boeing subsidiary and is
headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, with locations around
the world. With over a decade of experience and over 1750+ test
flights, Wisk is shaping the future of daily commutes and urban
travel, safely and sustainably. Learn more about Wisk here.
ABOUT SKYPORTS
Skyports Infrastructure is the leading enabler of advanced air
mobility (AAM), providing the critical link between the ground and
the sky. The company designs, builds and operates take-off and
landing infrastructure for air taxis, and partners with world-class
electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) passenger and cargo
vehicle manufacturers around the world to enable safe, sustainable
and efficient flight operations within urban and suburban
environments. Find out more at: www.skyports.net
ABOUT COUNCIL OF MAYORS (SEQ)
The Council of Mayors (SEQ) represents 11 local governments
across South East Queensland. It is now Australia’s largest
regional local government advocacy organisation, representing one
in seven Australians who call SEQ home. Together we strive to
consistently deliver better regional funding, policy and
collaborative outcomes for the communities of South East
Queensland. Find out more: https://seqmayors.qld.gov.au/
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MEDIA CONTACT Carrie Bennett Media@wisk.aero