Wisk Aero Signs Agreement to Bring Autonomous Air Taxi Program to Australia

Wisk Aero to Bring Autonomous Air Taxi to Australia

by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian M. Crosby

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) leader Wisk Aero has formed a partnership with the Council of Mayors South East Queensland in order to introduce its autonomous air taxi service to the region.

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Wisk will also be bringing on locally-based personnel to expand its physical presence in Australia.

“We are proud to engage with forward-thinking local leaders, like the Council of Mayors, to advance the introduction of AAM and benefit not only Wisk, but local communities and the industry as a whole,” said Wisk CEO Gary Gysin. “This is an exciting time for us, as we continue our momentum and expand our global presence. We look forward to building on the strong relationships we have in Australia to make safe, all-electric, autonomous flight a reality.”

The Council of Mayors Chair, Brisbane Lord Mayor Cr Adrian Schrinner, stated that the MOU would endorse meeting with the region’s Councils pertaining to the introduction of the AAM industry into South East Queensland.

“Strong collaboration between our Councils is critical to ensure the industry understands the needs of our communities. It also enables our Councils to support, wherever possible, a consistent and collaborative approach to things like planning and regulation that will be critical to investment and rollout across our region,” said Lord Mayor Cr Adrian Schrinner. “Council of Mayors kickstarted our Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games journey because we knew it would attract global businesses and innovative industries to our region, bringing with it new jobs and new economic opportunities.

“On the back of the Brisbane 2032 Games, we’re delighted to be working with Wisk to look at how South East Queensland can capitalise off the new jobs and economic opportunities associated with this new and exciting industry,” Lord Mayor Schrinner continued. “We expect to see the emergence of advanced air technology in places like Paris and Los Angeles, and by 2032 I’d love to see it supporting new and innovative experiences for tourism and travel in South East Queensland.”

Wisk is seeking a long-lasting presence in Queensland, and will work alongside local government to implement green tourism and transport options for the city. Additionally, the company will be displaying its 5th generation aircraft in Brisbane this coming July.

“This new partnership is a great starting point for our expansion across Australasia,” said Catherine MacGowan, Wisk’s Asia Pacific Regional Director. “Our work has the potential to accelerate the introduction of emissions-free aviation, help reduce transport-driven carbon emissions, and realize the benefits of AAM for the Queensland state economy and the wellbeing of its citizens.”

Read more about Wisk Aero:

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

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.