Wisk, New Zealand Sign Air Taxi Trial Agreement

Urban air mobility company Wisk has signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of New Zealand to establish a passenger transport trial in Canterbury, New Zealand. The trials will use Wisk’s autonomous, all-electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi, Cora. Details regarding parameters and timeframes for the venture are still in development.

“We are delighted to now have a signed agreement with the New Zealand Government, which will propel Cora’s entry to the air taxi market,” said Wisk CEO Gary Gysin. “We see this agreement as a sign of confidence in our product and abilities to develop and deliver a safe and reliable air taxi service, starting in New Zealand.”

The trial will take place as part of New Zealand’s Airspace Integration Trials Programme, an initiative established in October 2019 to “support the safe testing and development of advanced unmanned aircraft and accelerate their integration into the aviation system.” According to Wisk, it has been testing in the Canterbury region and working with the New Zealand government since 2017. As previously reported by AVweb, Wisk is a recently rebranded joint venture between Boeing and electric transportation solutions company Kitty Hawk Corporation.

Cora travels at about 86 knots (160 km/h) and has a range of approximately 25 miles (40 km) with reserves. Wisk says it has currently logged more than 1,000 flights in the aircraft.