A NEW self-flying air taxi has been rapidly approaching operation as it becomes the first vehicle of its kind to qualify for a Federal Aviation Administration certification.
The sky shuttle’s manufacturer, Wisk, promises its pilotless aircraft will be accessible, affordable, and sustainable.
Wide image of Wisk’s 6th Generation air taxi up in the sky
Wisk’s 6th Generation air taxi will be capable of transporting a maximum of four passengers during a trip
Wisk’s 6th Generation air taxi arrives after a decade-plus of tireless work.
Gary Gysin, CEO of Wisk, said: “In 2010, we set out to find a way to skip traffic and get to our destination faster.
“That inspiration evolved into a mission to deliver safe, everyday flight for everyone.
"Over the past 12 years, we’ve pursued that mission through the development of five different generations of full-scale aircraft,” Wisk reports.
The safety risks of this self-flying air taxi are mitigated through oversight by multiple humans during flight.
These human supervisors can manually take over the aircraft’s operation in an emergency.
Complementing the air taxi’s oversight is a design with no single point of failure and improved detection and avoidance capabilities.
According to the company’s recent press release, Wisk says their aircraft has a one-in-a-billion chance of experiencing an accident.
Wisk completed more than 1,600 test flights for its past generation air taxis, all of which occurred without a crash.
Now, the 6th Generation model can travel 90 miles with electric power.
Each flight will have a price target of $3 per passenger per mile.
Four passengers can head to a destination within this air shuttle while cruising at an altitude of 2,500-4,000ft above ground.
Wisk offers its aircraft’s passengers “ample storage for baggage and personal carry-on items” during journeys.
Wisk’s 6th Generation taxi will be self-flying with human supervision
6th Generation Wisk self-flying taxis fill the interior of an open air hanger
Wisk’s impact on travel has been supported through a partnership with Kitty Hawk Corporation and an investment from Boeing.
This air taxi’s recent Federal Aviation Administration certification is a stepping-stone toward the company’s goal of launching its air taxi service in 2024.
