Boeing-owned Wisk Aero, an electric air taxi startup, intends to launch its pilotless aircraft before the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

The autonomous air taxi is called Generation 6. It is the first-ever pilotless aircraft to be considered for US Federal Aviation Administration Aircraft Certification. The FAA certification confirms the aircraft meets the highest safety standards. This likely pushes pilotless air taxis one step closer towards becoming a reality in Australia.

Generation 6 represents a form of Advanced Air Mobility electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing aircraft. Similar to how helicopters work, it is designed to take off and land vertically. 

AAM developments symbolise a modernised future for Australia’s air transportation landscape.

But when will they be here?

Wisk Aero Asia Pacific market development manager Dan Parsons said: “There has been some great progress [for AAM] in Australia, both from a federal government point of view through the publication of the Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems and Advanced Air Mobility Roadmap by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.”

Wisk Aero has done some work with South-East Queensland for AAM development.

“Wisk and the Council of Mayors in South-East Queensland, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to explore what urban air mobility would look like for this region,” Mr Parsons said.

Regarding the reasons for choosing South-East Queensland for AAM development, Mr Parsons said: “South-East Queensland is an attractive market [as] it is one of Australia’s fastest growing regions.”

While acknowledging that the Brisbane Games offer an opportunity for great exposure of pilotless AAM aircraft, Mr Parsons conveyed a deeper underlying motivation for AAM development in the region. It is the legacy-building vision of our partners in the Council of Mayors and other levels of government that represents a much bigger opportunity for AAM development.

When asked about the likelihood of success for the launch of the four-seater autonomous aircraft before the Brisbane Olympics, Mr Parsons was quite confident.

“Our belief in the success of this product is quite strong.”

Dan Parsons

Mr Parsons said Wisk’s AAM work was not merely in preparation for the Olympics: “We want to be part of the South-East Queensland transportation network, both in the lead-up to, during, and for a long time after the Olympics as well.”

AAM is aiming to establish an efficient transportation network that offers complementary and sometimes competing services to existing transport modes, according to a 2024 roadmap report by peak body, the Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems.

AAUS executive director Greg Tyrrell said: “AAM aircraft, at scale, are expected to be cheaper to obtain and maintain than conventional aviation types, providing an opportunity for the expansion of critical services in complementary roles.”

While urban air mobility gets most of the attention, AAM’s potential extends to regional and medical uses too, according to the AAUS AAM Industry Vision and Roadmap 2024.

Mr Parsons agreed, and emphasised AAM’s utility for regional air mobility.

Using AAM’s potential for Western Australia’s rural communities as an example, Mr Parsons said: “I think there’s a lot of opportunity in WA to create new connections between […] Wheatbelt towns and Perth, and then going North to remote locations in the Pilbara and the Murchison, and in the Kimberley to the major centres on the coast.”

But how safe are pilotless aircraft such as the Generation 6?

Mr Parsons said: “The ability of modern autonomous systems to diagnose issues, follow predefined programs for addressing those issues, and continue safe flights through to a nominal destination […] come through autonomy.”

“So we actually believe that there are opportunities for increased safety with more use of autonomy.”

Dan Parsons

The launch of AAM aircraft in Australia’s skies is dependent upon regulatory approvals by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Mr Parsons said: “It’s still too early to make a formal application for operational approval or acceptance of the aircraft into Australia.”

A CASA spokesperson said: “CASA has quite a bit of work underway on this issue, however no AAM electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing aircraft have received regulatory approval in Australia at this stage.”

However, the future of pilotless air taxis in Australian skies is not all bleak.

Mr Parsons said: “We have started discussions. We, of course, are very encouraged by the publication of the roadmap by CASA.”

He foresees an ongoing expansion of the AAM concept from Queensland into the whole of Australia.