Boeing’s dreams of self-flying aircraft grew closer to fruition this week after another city signed on to explore autonomous commercial operations.
Wisk Aero, the manufacturer’s electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi arm, on Wednesday announced a strategic partnership with the city of Fullerton, California, under which it plans to explore future autonomous infrastructure and routes out of Fullerton Municipal Airport (KFUL).
Fullerton joins Miami, Sugar Land, Texas, Brisbane, Australia, Kaga City, Japan, and nearby Long Beach as cities that have agreed to study Wisk’s self-flying Generation 6. The developer also has a partnership with Houston Airports and is working with FBO network Signature Aviation to install infrastructure at Signature’s terminals in Houston, Miami, Los Angeles, and elsewhere.
According to Wisk, Fullerton’s involvement creates a “framework” for Gen 6 operations in the Los Angeles-Orange County area. The FAA, meanwhile, is refining operational rules for eVTOL and other advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft through initiatives such as the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP). Its goal is to facilitate operations at scale in major cities by 2028.
“Our work together will not only assess the feasibility of [advanced air mobility] at FUL, but also help define the standards and processes for the entire industry,” said Emilien Marchand, Wisk regional lead of ecosystem partnerships, in a statement.
Wisk in SoCal
At launch, targeted before the end of the decade, Wisk’s four-passenger Gen 6 will fly fully autonomous, overseen by a team of remote supervisors. It has an intended 72 nm range and 110-120 knots cruise speed.
The model’s VTOL capability and electric propulsion make it runway independent and quiet, suiting it to urban areas. In 2023, Wisk’s fifth-generation prototype completed the first public demonstration of an electric air taxi in Los Angeles County.
The company’s relationship with Long Beach dates to 2022 and is focused on the implementation of AAM as part of a broader Southern California network—one that could potentially include Fullerton Municipal. Per Wisk, Fullerton will incorporate autonomous AAM operations into its strategic planning for the airport, airspace, and electric grid. It will also develop permitting, noise guidelines, and other “policy pathways” required for operations.
Wisk will advise on the requirements for autonomous operations at vertiports, including IFR routes. The company is simultaneously working with NASA to study the integration of AAM aircraft into existing traffic and air traffic control communications through a series of live flights.
Wisk and Fullerton will jointly assess the infrastructure requirements for self-flying air taxis, as well as opportunities for training and maintenance facilities at the airport. They will review local policies and land-use codes to determine what changes may be required. Wisk said the partners are eyeing relationships with other Southern California vertiport projects to create a regional network.
“We’re building a blueprint for how cities can successfully integrate AAM into their transportation networks for the long term, and we’re excited about the potential across the Southern California region,” said Marchand.
Wisk envisions a similar network in the Greater Houston area. Its agreement with the city of Sugar Land includes plans for a vertiport at Sugar Land Regional Airport (KSGR). But the service could also encompass George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), and Ellington Airport (EFD), where evaluations with Signature are already underway.
Similarly, Wisk’s planned Miami network comprises Miami International Airport (KMIA), Miami Executive Airport (KTMB), and Opa-locka Executive Airport (KOPF) as potential hubs.
The FAA is still ironing out commercial operating permissions for large autonomous aircraft. But it has made substantial recent progress toward the introduction of eVTOL and other powered-lift models. In July, it published powered-lift certification guidance that clarifies the path for developers. That release followed last year’s special federal aviation regulation (SFAR) on powered-lift operational and pilot training rules.
Future regulatory developments could come from the upcoming eIPP, in which Wisk told FLYING it plans to participate. The three-year initiative will comprise at least five AAM projects intended to validate the feasibility of applications such as passenger transport.
Competitors Archer Aviation, Joby Aviation, and Beta Technologies have also thrown their hats in the ring and are searching for state or local government partners to collaborate.
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