ConOps for eVTOL Operations: Wisk Aero and Skyports Detail Integration with Vertiports

ConOps for eVTOL: Wisk Aero and Skyports Partner to Integrate eVTOL Operations at Vertiports

Today, Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) leader Wisk Aero announced a partnership with vertiport leader Skyports for the integration of autonomous, electric, vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft operations at vertiports (landing sites for eVTOL aircraft) and other ground-based infrastructure. This is the first partnership of its kind between a vertiport developer-operator and an autonomous eVTOL developer in the U.S.

Recognizing that autonomy is essential to unlocking the full potential of AAM, Wisk and Skyports are working to enable vertiports and other ground-based infrastructure to support autonomous operations. The partners are examining areas such as physical aircraft considerations, passenger accommodation, schedule management, ground operations management, final approach and takeoff management, navigational aids, situational awareness, contingency management, and airspace design.

Wisk and Skyports have released a Concept of Operations (ConOps) detailing the ways in which autonomous eVTOL aircraft and operators will integrate with vertiports, as well as defining the necessary upgrades, retrofits, and procedure changes to allow for safe autonomous operations. The ConOps also describes the required systems and interactions between the aircraft, its fleet operator, and the vertiport.

“We are excited to partner with Skyports, a leader in vertiports and AAM infrastructure,” said Wisk CEO Gary Gysin. “It is critical that future operations are autonomous for safety, scalability, and affordability. With this ConOps, Wisk and Skyports are helping to define those future operations while ensuring the long-term success and full potential of this industry.”

“It’s important that infrastructure built today can accommodate the aircraft of tomorrow,” said Duncan Walker, CEO of Skyports. “We are thrilled to be partnered with Wisk as they push the bounds of aircraft systems innovation. The ConOps and our continued work on the development of vehicle-agnostic vertiports and ground-based infrastructure will ensure that this industry is well prepared to safely integrate autonomous operations in the future.”

Read more about Wisk:

• Advanced Air Mobility in Southern California: Wisk Aero Partners with Long Beach
• Boeing Funds Wisk Aero: $450 Million for Advanced Air Mobility Company
• OneSky Joins NASA on Advanced Air Mobility National Campaign

Read more about Skyports:

• Skyports Raises $23 Million in Series B
• Swoop Aero, Skyports, BD Rowa Partner: Air Logistics in the Pharmaceutical Industry
• Drones on Cape Cod: Skyports and MassDOT Partner to Connect Remote Communities

Ian attended Dominican University of California, where he received a BA in English in 2019. With a lifelong passion for writing and storytelling and a keen interest in technology, he is now contributing to DroneLife as a staff writer.