Wisk Aero, a Boeing-owned company, is targeting the latter part of this decade to start carrying passengers with its pilotless air-taxi, CEO Brian Yutko said on Monday. The company is currently working with U.S. regulators to secure necessary approvals, despite ongoing skepticism among industry analysts regarding certification timelines.
Wisk is developing a four-seater autonomous electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, which is expected to have a range of 90 miles (145 km). Yutko mentioned, “We are right now testing and producing the elements of this aircraft that we will hope to fly around the end of this year,” at the Farnborough Airshow.
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The company’s approach contrasts with other major eVTOL manufacturers, which are designing aircraft that will require a pilot. Wisk’s pilotless model is intended to reduce operational costs associated with pilots.
However, industry experts from Bain forecast that fully autonomous passenger flights may not become viable until the late 2030s. Additionally, Wisk’s pilotless aircraft will face competition from autonomous vehicles on the road. Mattia Celli, a Bain report author, noted, “Maximising passenger occupancy and avoiding return trips with empty aircraft will be crucial for operator profitability.”
See also: Wisk Aero Successfully Completes First Public Autonomous eVTOL Demonstration Flight
Wisk, based in Mountain View, California, was previously a joint venture between Boeing and Kitty Hawk Corp. It became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Boeing last year.
Wisk secures $450 million in funding from Boeing for develop self-flying air taxi
