Autonomous air mobility (AAM) vendor Wisk Aero has become what it claims to be the first electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi company to fly in the greater Los Angeles region.
This month the company conducted test flights at the Long Beach Airport, performing autonomous flight operations in a real-world commercial airport environment alongside passenger airlines. It was the first public demonstration of an eVTOL aircraft in the Los Angeles region during Long Beach’s Festival of Flight.
Wisk Aero’s fifth generation Cora aircraft conducted a multi-transition flight to demonstrate how the aircraft may operate with future autonomous passenger flights.
Wisk is participating with Long Beach, California’s economic partnership to focus on planning and implementing air taxi flights as part of a broader regional network rollout.
“Autonomous flight is possible today and it’s happening now in LA,” said Brian Yutko, CEO of Wisk. “Los Angeles is a target launch city for many in our industry and we are extremely proud to be the first air taxi company to fly in LA – and to have done so with an autonomous aircraft.”
Previously, Wisk Aero showcased various transition flights of its fifth-generation aircraft, demonstrating capabilities such as 360 degree turns, transition from hovering to flight modes and more.
The move comes after Boeing Company became the sole owner of Wisk Aero; Kitty Hawk sold its shares to Boeing after ceasing operations last year. Boeing already had invested $450 million in Wisk to help develop a commercial fleet of air taxis for use in public transportation.
