Boeing backed Wisk targets 2032 take off for self-flying taxis in Brisbane

Boeing-owned Wisk says it is moving ahead with plans to bring self flying taxis to Brisbane in time for the 2032 Games.

The four seat Wisk eVTOL air taxi will fly without a pilot. Picture: Wisk Aero

Brisbane may not have the Arc de Triomphe or Eiffel Tower, but the Queensland capital will have something Paris does not by the time the 2032 Olympics roll around – self-flying taxis.

A partnership between Boeing subsidiary Wisk and Australian company Skyports promises to deliver the infrastructure network needed for the autonomous air taxi services using electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

Wisk vice president of operations and the Asia Pacific, Catherine MacGowan said so far the company had designed six different generations of aircraft and operated more than 1750 test flights.

“We’re now working on our generation six aircraft, which is the aircraft that we’ll certify and we’ll bring to market,” said Ms MacGowan.

“This aircraft will fly later this year and be in the market towards the end of this decade.”

She said Wisk was working closely with the US regulator, the Federation Aviation Administration, and Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

“We’ll certify with the FAA and we’ll operate first in the US, but Australia is our first entry into service market outside of the US so it’s exciting to be working in Australia where we’ve got a combination of a forward-looking regulator looking at how to introduce innovation, the appropriate market and strong interest in this industry,” Ms MacGowan said.

Although the eVTOL space was highly competitive with a raft of other companies working to bring the emissions free aircraft into service, Wisk was intent on being the first to introduce self-flying air taxis, carrying up to four people.

Wisk Generation 6 aircraft were expected to be flying commercially by 2030, carrying four people and no pilot. Picture: Wisk Aero

Ms McGowan said autonomy was widely considered as the solution for scale and safety in the aviation industry.

“Wisk backed by Boeing has made the choice to go straight to autonomy, so we’ll introduce our aircraft towards the end of this decade supervised by a multi-vehicle supervisor on the ground — but the aircraft itself will be self-flying,” she said.

The partnership with Skyports would allow a network of “vertiports” or landing pads atop buildings to be established in time for the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics.

Once the infrastructure was developed, the plan was for Wisk aircraft to operate from Brisbane Airport to locations in the CBD, Gold Coast and other regions.

“Transport is always a challenge in big cities so the idea that you can have a trip from say the airport to the city in 15 minutes in an eVTOL aircraft will deliver not only time savings but predictability,” said Ms McGowan.

“You know that trip won’t be affected by congestion and can be used as part of a day’s travel around the region.”

As well as Skyports, Wisk was working closely with the South East Queensland Council of Mayors ahead of the 2032 Games.

Council chief executive Scott Smith said the advanced air mobility sector was expected to contribute over $66bn to the Australian economy or 3.1 per cent of national GDP by 2040.

“We’re excited to see this evolving industry bring high-value local jobs to SEQ and support improved services like medical and tourism,” Mr Smith said.

“To secure our place as a global destination we must be at the forefront of emerging technologies.”