Boeing's Wisk autonomous air taxi clears key FAA hurdle
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Wisk Aero's electric air taxi. Photo courtesy of Wisk.
Boeing's Wisk Aero is a step closer to someday deploying self-flying air taxis after clearing a key regulatory hurdle with the Federal Aviation Administration, Axios is first to report.
Why it matters: Electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOLs) represent the next phase of aviation, but because of their innovative design — part helicopter, part fixed wing plane — they're in a special class that requires a unique certification process.
Wisk's regulatory path is even more difficult than other electric air taxis because its aircraft will not have a pilot, just a supervisor on the ground monitoring multiple aircraft simultaneously.
- It is a few years behind rivals like Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation, which are closing in on FAA certification and aim to begin piloted air taxi services as soon as 2025.
- Wisk's target launch is the end of the decade, starting in greater Houston, where it recently partnered with the city of Sugar Land to begin planning how to commercialize an air taxi service.
Driving the news: The FAA issued what is known as a "Stage 2 G-1 issue paper" for Wisk's autonomous aircraft, which sets forth the specific airworthiness standards and environmental rules required for eventual FAA type certification.
- While just the first of many steps toward final certification, it's a "monumental" step in Wisk's strategy to introduce autonomous flight, Cindy Comer, Wisk's senior director of Certification and Safety Management System, tells Axios.
The bottom line: As with autonomous robotaxis and delivery drones, regulators are making up the rules as technology advances.
Editor's note: This story was corrected to note that the FAA issued a "Stage 2 G-1 issue paper" (not a G-1 certification), which is needed for eventual certification of Wisk's aircraft.
