The Californian city of Long Beach has signaled its desire to include advanced air mobility (AAM) in its future public transportation plans through a partnership with eVTOL aircraft developer Wisk Aero. On February 22, the companies announced the establishment of a working group to evaluate opportunities and lay plans for their launch. Wisk and the Long Beach Economic Partnership (LBEP) co-chair the group.
Over the next two years, the working group will perform an analysis of the economic effect and workforce development, community acceptance and outreach, integration of autonomous AAM into city transportation plans, and federal and state government funding opportunities in the city. With support from Wisk, LBEP will coordinate the development of an economic impact study conducted by the Cal State Long Beach (CSULB) Office of Economic Research.
The initial study will estimate the annual economic effect of AAM operations in Southern California and other regional state economies. The partners expect to complete that stage of their work later this year.
In nearby Los Angeles, city officials have been laying plans to start AAM services since at least late 2020. Rival eVTOL aircraft manufacturers, including Hyundai and Archer, have actively engaged in the process through the public-private Urban Movement Labs partnership.
“We are excited to work with the City of Long Beach and LBEP in this unique partnership,” said Wisk CEO Gary Gysin. “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 realize the economic and environmental benefits of AAM, as well as to lead Southern California, and the United States, in autonomous, all-electric AAM.”
Long Beach major Robert Garcia alluded to the city’s aerospace heritage, as home over the years to companies such as Boeing and McDonnell Douglas. “Aerospace innovation has always been a strong part of Long Beach history,” he said. “We have produced some of the world’s most modern aircraft, are leading in the space economy, and will now be home to new technologies in Advanced Air Mobility. We look forward to our partnership with Wisk and are proud of our local workforce who are educated, trained, and poised to make progress on these innovations.”
Over the past couple of years, California-based Wisk has flight-tested its Cora two-seat autonomous eVTOL vehicle in the U.S. and New Zealand. Last month, the company drew a $450 million investment by Boeing, which jointly owns the company with Kitty Hawk. It also has started working on a larger and possibly longer-range eVTOL design, but has declined to publish any performance details or specifications.
