What Will Self-Flying Air Taxi Vertiports Look Like?

California-based Wisk Aero has released a “first-of-its kind” report detailing how vertiports and related systems and infrastructure could better accommodate automated electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis.

Thom Patterson

Thursday, April 14, 2022 at 01:53 PM ET

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Wisk Aero’s fifth-generation eVTOL demonstrator is named Cora. A new generation is expected to be unveiled this year. [Courtesy: Wisk Aero]

Key Takeaways:

Wisk Aero, a Boeing-backed developer of self-flying air taxis, released a report detailing how vertiports and related infrastructure should accommodate autonomous eVTOL aircraft.
The report addresses unique operational challenges for automated air taxis, proposing concepts like a remote Pilot in Command (PIC) based at a Flight Operations Center, a Vertiport Automation System (VAS), and specific protocols for passenger safety and emergency landings.
This proactive initiative aims to "future-proof" urban air mobility infrastructure development and inform discussions with industry and regulators, as the FAA has not yet finalized requirements for vertiports or autonomous eVTOL integration.

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California-based Wisk Aero, the Boeing-backed (NYSE: BA) developer of a self-flying air taxi, doesn’t want to be left out of the conversation about vertiports—the facilities that will serve electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

So this week, Wisk released a “first-of-its-kind” report detailing how vertiports and related systems and infrastructure could better accommodate automated air taxis.