More in

Wisk Aero and Japan Airlines partner on autonomous flight

Wisk Aero has joined forces with Japan Airlines (JAL) to bring Wisk’s autonomous, all-electric air taxi services to Japan.

Wisk's 6th generation eVTOL air taxi
Wisk's 6th generation eVTOL air taxi - Wisk Aero LLC

Advanced Air Mobility company Wisk is also working with JAL Engineering (JALEC), an aircraft maintenance company responsible for developing aircraft for the JAL Group, to develop plans for the maintenance and operation of the autonomous aircraft.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed that establishes a framework of collaboration between the companies, as well as with the Japanese Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) and other relevant Japanese government agencies.

This will include careful consideration of regulatory requirements, safety measures, and how the community can benefit from advanced air mobility through the use of Wisk’s 6th generation self-flying, electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

Specifically, the MOU establishes a framework for research towards launching fleet operations for Wisk’s 6th generation taxi, including type certification approval in Japan and maintenance, repair and overhaul requirements; supporting discussion with JCAB and relevant agencies as appropriate on establishment of a Wisk operation under an Air Operators Certificate in Japan in the future; development of a path to a demonstration flight in Japan; and introduction of autonomous aircraft into the Japanese national airspace system.

Register now to continue reading

Thanks for visiting The Engineer. You’ve now reached your monthly limit of news stories. Register for free to unlock unlimited access to all of our news coverage, as well as premium content including opinion, in-depth features and special reports.  

Benefits of registering

  • In-depth insights and coverage of key emerging trends

  • Unrestricted access to special reports throughout the year

  • Daily technology news delivered straight to your inbox