Wisk Aero, a leading Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company, and the City of Sugar Land, Texas, have entered into a partnership to bring autonomous Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) to the Greater Houston region.
Under this new partnership, Wisk and Sugar Land will identify and assess a location at the Sugar Land Regional Airport for the development of vertiport infrastructure that would allow for Wisk’s autonomous air taxi operations. This initial partnership will lay the foundation and act as a gateway for the establishment of a larger network across the Greater Houston region.
Wisk and Sugar Land will engage in a number of activities to advance the overarching goal of the partnership.
- Wisk will provide advice on technical needs for autonomous eVTOL operations, including infrastructure, training, ground operational procedures, and plans for potential site expansion.
- Sugar Land will focus on integrating AAM into its long-term plans, championing community engagement, and establishing operational policy, such as infrastructure permitting and noise levels.
- Together, the two organizations will explore incorporating maintenance and training facilities in Sugar Land, and engage local and regional stakeholders to develop routes that connect Sugar Land to the Greater Houston region, such as downtown Houston and the Houston Airport System.
Wisk CEO, Brian Yutko, said: “The Greater Houston area is experiencing some of the highest population growth in the country, which calls for new and efficient ways to move across the region. Sugar Land’s strategic location within the Greater Houston region, and its forward-thinking city leadership, make it an ideal partner for us and one that is uniquely positioned as an early leader in the launch of air taxi services. We look forward to working with Sugar Land, local ecosystem stakeholders, and the FAA on both ground and air infrastructure, as we bring autonomous air taxi services to the Greater Houston region.”