Self-flying electric air taxis could be coming to an FBO terminal near you.
Signature Aviation, which owns the world’s largest array of private aviation terminals, on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Wisk Aero—the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi arm of Boeing—to add autonomous flight to its global network. Already, the partners are studying the development of electrified takeoff and landing hubs, or vertiports, at Signature’s Ellington Airport (KEFD) hub in Houston.
According to Wisk, the arrangement creates a “framework for potential future commercial agreements.” The company is targeting commercial passenger service with its autonomous Generation 6 air taxi before the end of the decade.
“Advanced air mobility [AAM] represents a transformative opportunity to shape the future of our industry, and together with Wisk, we are proactively exploring the infrastructure and strategic planning necessary to expand our exceptional, forward-thinking guest experience across our network in the future,” said Derek DeCross, Signature’s chief commercial officer, in remarks accompanying the partnership announcement.
Embracing Autonomy
Unlike its closest relatives—Joby Aviation’s S4, Archer Aviation’s Midnight, and Beta Technologies’ Alia—Wisk’s four-passenger Gen 6 will be self-flying at launch, with a team of remote supervisors that can take control as needed. It has an intended 72 nm range and 110-120 knots cruise speed. Taking the model’s runway independence into account, those features make it ideal for short-hop passenger flights in cities.
Signature already has charging system installation agreements with Beta and Archer, which purchased chargers from its rival. The agreement with Wisk, though, represents its first foray into autonomous flight.
The partners will gauge the commercial, financial, regulatory, technical, and operational feasibility of Wisk operations at specific Signature terminals, many of which overlap with the air taxi developer’s planned network. Ellington Airport, for example, is one of three potential Houston-area vertiport sites it is exploring with the Houston Airport System. The other two, George Bush Intercontinental Airport (KIAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (KHOU), are also home to Signature FBOs.
“We’re building the robust infrastructure and integrated network essential for safe, scaled operations, starting with our focused efforts at Ellington,” said Dan Dalton, vice president of global partnerships for Wisk.
In Los Angeles, Wisk is targeting operations out of Long Beach Airport (KLGB)—another Signature hub. Similarly, its proposed Miami network overlaps with Signature terminals at Miami International (KMIA), Miami Executive (KTMB), and Miami-Opa Locka Executive (KOPF) airports.
Though Wisk and Signature framed the partnership as global, the latter does not own facilities in Australia or Japan, the air taxi firm’s planned international markets.
Domestically, though, the collaboration could give Wisk the critical infrastructure it needs to launch its passenger service. Signature in June signed an agreement with vertiport developer UrbanV to electrify its terminals in Florida, New York, California, and Texas, further supporting models like the Gen 6.
FBOs, Meet Air Taxis
The tie-up between Wisk and Signature aligns with a growing trend in the eVTOL space.
Archer, Joby, and Beta, for example, each have similar agreements with competitor Atlantic Aviation. Atlantic in October said it was preparing to install chargers for the developers’ respective aircraft at the East 34th Street Heliport in Manhattan. In January, it acquired Ferrovial Vertiports to help build the surrounding infrastructure.
Joby and Supernal, the air taxi arm of Hyundai, have agreements to install chargers for West Coast FBO network Clay Lacy Aviation. Earlier in August, Joby said it will net 12 private terminals and lounges—including several in New York City—with its $125 million acquisition of Blade Air Mobility’s passenger business.
As Wisk and other eVTOL air taxi developers work toward type certification, these relationships with private aviation providers could enable a smooth transition to commercial operations.
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