Houston is stepping up its plans to be an early base for autonomous eVTOL air taxi services, with officials representing the most populous city in Texas this week signing a memorandum of understanding with aircraft developer Wisk Aero. The partnership announced on June 17 covers the development of vertiports at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, William P. Hobby Airport, and Ellington Airport that could be used by Wisk’s 6th Generation aircraft, which is expected to enter service at the end of the decade.
The collaboration with Houston Airports builds on a partnership between Wisk and the Greater Houston suburb of Sugar Land, which the Boeing subsidiary announced in February. It will expand the scope of strategic planning and community outreach by Wisk and officials representing the city, which has a population of almost 7.4 million people.
Over the next 12 months, Wisk and Houston Airports will develop infrastructure and routes for the all-electric 6th Generation aircraft, which is expected to have a range of almost 80 nm and speeds of up to 120 knots. A ground-based supervisor will monitor autonomous flights by multiple aircraft, coordinating operations with air traffic controllers as required.
Since it produced its first-generation eVTOL prototype in 2010, Wisk has flown more than 1,700 flight tests and is now preparing to fly what it refers to as the Gen 6 aircraft. The California-based company is aiming to have the four-passenger model certified to operate in IFR conditions.
The agreement gives scope for additional operating sites to be assessed across the Greater Houston area. The partners will also make plans for aircraft maintenance and pilot training facilities.
“Texas is quickly becoming a leader, not only in advanced air mobility but in ushering in safe, autonomous flight here in the U.S.,” said Wisk’s CEO Brian Yutko. “Connecting suburbs to Houston’s airports, business centers, and prime tourist destinations through autonomous, sustainable air travel will create a new form of urban mobility and have tremendous economic and workforce impacts, supporting the growth of the Houston region.”
In November 2023, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Arlington Municipal Airport announced a similar partnership with Overair, which is developing the six-seat Butterfly eVTOL aircraft. Officials in Arlington want to have vertiports operational in time for the city to host the World Cup soccer tournament in 2026, with flights connecting the airports with local attractions such as the Six Flags Over Texas theme park and Hurricane Harbor, as well as sports teams such as the Dallas Cowboys and the Texas Rangers.