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Through a new partnership with the Council of Mayors South East Queensland, Wisk Aero (Mountain View, Calif., U.S.) is helping to introduce safe, sustainable and scalable, autonomous air taxi service to the Australian region. In addition to this new partnership, the company will also be expanding its physical presence in the country, with the addition of Australia-based personnel.

“We are proud to engage with forward-thinking local leaders, like the Council of Mayors, to advance the introduction of advanced air mobility [AAM] and benefit not only Wisk, but local communities and the industry as a whole,” Gary Gysin, chief executive officer (CEO) of Wisk, says. “This is an exciting time for us, as we continue our momentum and expand our global presence. We look forward to building on the strong relationships we have in Australia to make safe, all-electric, autonomous flight a reality.”

The Council of Mayors chair, Brisbane Lord Mayor Cr Adrian Schrinner, says the signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will support engagement with the region’s Councils on the introduction of the AAM industry, including operators like Wisk, into South East Queensland. He notes that the region offers a mix of rural, beach and city landscapes, making it an ideal location to trial and launch new and innovative industries.

Wisk intends for its presence in Queensland to be long term, and will be working with local government toward providing the city with green tourism and transport options. The company will also be displaying its fifth-generation aircraft in Brisbane in July 2022.

“This new partnership is a great starting point for our expansion across Australasia,” Wisk’s Asia Pacific regional director, Catherine MacGowan, adds. “Our work has the potential to accelerate the introduction of emissions-free aviation, help reduce transport-driven carbon emissions and realize the benefits of AAM for the Queensland state economy and the wellbeing of its citizens.”