Wisk Aero, a prominent Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company and developer of the first all-electric, self-flying air taxi in the U.S., has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airservices Australia. This government-owned entity is responsible for air traffic management and related services in Australia. The MoU sets the groundwork for integrating autonomous air taxi operations into Australia’s airspace, marking an important milestone for Wisk’s testing and evaluation efforts in the country and future commercial operations.
Australia is a key market for Wisk, highlighted by its previous agreements, such as the 2022 MoU with the Council of Mayors (SEQ), Australia’s largest regional local government advocacy group. Wisk has also expanded its collaboration with Skyports Infrastructure to establish an Entry-into-Service (EIS) network for its autonomous aircraft, ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Additionally, Wisk Australia Pty Ltd has been established to oversee Wisk’s EIS in Australia and manage the partnership with Airservices under this MoU.
This new agreement reinforces Wisk’s commitment to the Australian market by ensuring that necessary airspace integration systems are developed prior to launching its services. The MoU outlines a framework that includes:
- Assessing initiatives to incorporate autonomous air mobility networks into Australia’s airspace,
- Exploring how advanced, uncrewed, and remotely supervised aircraft can be integrated into the national airspace,
- Creating a forum to identify development opportunities and address challenges,
- Facilitating collaboration and knowledge-sharing to improve practices in autonomous air mobility.
The MoU will also support activities such as workshops and simulations to understand the integration of AAM systems with Airservices Australia’s systems.
“Australia has a strong legacy of aviation innovation and a forward-thinking approach to advanced air mobility,” said Catherine MacGowan, Wisk’s VP of APAC and Air Operations. “We are excited to share this vision with Airservices and contribute to an air traffic system that supports safe and efficient AAM services, bringing new air travel options to communities across the region.”
The partnership also benefits from Airservices Australia’s leadership in airspace modernization, including its plans to implement a Flight Information Management System (FIMS), a crucial step for safely integrating AAM into a unified airspace. This integrated approach will ensure the safe operation of both traditional and emerging aircraft.
Airservices Australia is playing a pivotal role in transforming airspace management to accommodate the future of aviation, including AAM. Through this collaboration, Wisk and Airservices will explore new procedures for autonomous flight operations, digital flight approvals, time-based trajectory management, and their implementation in vertiport environments. This MoU aims to set a standard for the safe and efficient incorporation of AAM into Australia’s national airspace.
“The mutual benefits of this knowledge-sharing partnership will help both organizations better understand industry needs and challenges while working together to ensure the safe and sustainable use of Australian airspace,” said Rob Sharp, Interim CEO of Airservices Australia.