USA. Wisk Aero – developer of the first all-electric, self-flying air taxi in the US – has entered a partnership agreement with the City of Long Beach, California with the aim of making advanced air mobility (AAM) a reality in Southern California.
Through this partnership, the two organisations will establish an AAM working group composed of business, local government and community leaders that will focus on evaluating, planning, and implementing AAM in Long Beach with a focus on autonomous flight.
Wisk – which, as reported, recently received a new investment of US$450 million from Boeing – and the Long Beach Economic Partnership (LBEP) will co-chair the working group for an initial two-year term. The group will examine four key areas to evaluate the opportunities and impacts that AAM represents for Long Beach.
These areas include an analysis of the economic impact and workforce development, community acceptance and outreach, integration of autonomous AAM into city transportation plans, and federal and state government funding opportunities.
With support from Wisk, LBEP will coordinate the development of an Economic Impact Study that will be conducted by the Cal State Long Beach (CSULB) Office of Economic Research. The study will estimate the annual economic impact of AAM operations in Southern California and other regional state economies.
The results of the study are expected to be completed later this year.
Wisk CEO Gary Gysin said: “With its rich aerospace past, current resurgence via Space Beach, and its central position in the LA Metro area, Long Beach is an ideal city for all-electric, autonomous urban flight opportunities.
“Through this partnership, Long Beach has the opportunity to be one of the first cities to realise the economic and environmental benefits of AAM, as well as to lead Southern California, and the United States, in autonomous, all-electric AAM.”
Randal Hernandez, co-chair of the working group, immediate past chair of the Long Beach Economic Partnership and former Chairman of the City of Long Beach’s Economic Development Commission, said: “Autonomous, all-electric AAM represents the next revolution in commercial aviation and promises significant economic benefits with minimal environmental impact.
“We are proud to partner with an AAM leader like Wisk to further explore the benefits that AAM can bring to the City of Long Beach, the southern California region, and the state as a whole.”
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