At Wisk, we’re dedicated to making everyday flight a reality through electric vertical take off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. For more than a decade, our team has been reimagining the way that we move. We’ve built five generations of aircraft (now working on our 6th) and we regularly talk with key stakeholders about integrating and flying our aircraft in existing airspace. But, this is only part of the whole picture.
We can build the next generation of aircraft and define the routes on which we plan to fly them, but we also need somewhere to land, charge, and pick up passengers.
For our aircraft and others like us, that place will be heliport-like places called vertiports. Long-term, these will be uniquely designed transport hubs within broader networks. However, to start, we envision the use of existing infrastructure, such as general aviation airports and existing heliports.
We are evaluating partnerships with airports, real estate developers, and communications providers to rethink existing infrastructure so that it has all of the creature comforts that our future passengers will expect, as well as all of the requirements we need for safe, reliable journeys.
Some of the key questions we are considering to ensure safe, accessible and reliable flight include:
- Is it safe? Safety is at the forefront of all we do. There are no shortcuts to keeping our customers and each other safe. The vertiports that we will operate out of must not only meet but exceed safety standards for broader aviation, as well as fire codes, building codes, and vertiport codes that safeguard all nearby people and equipment.
- Is it accessible to passengers? We know that almost everyone will want to experience everyday flight and our mission is to create a service that can be enjoyed by everyone. We are considering vertiport sites in areas of high demand that are collocated with other transportation modes to maximize accessibility.
- Does it have the necessary amenities? One of the big differences between our aircraft and traditional helicopters is that we run on electricity, not traditional fuels. To power the future of mobility, we need to make sure that existing infrastructure has fast charging infrastructure and access to a high-powered electricity source. Other considerations include pads for take-off and landing, on-site maintenance, and space for passengers to check-in, board, and deplane.
We know that each vertiport will be unique and that infrastructure will evolve over time, however, rest assured that every time you board one of our aircraft, you’ll have a safe, reliable, and all around great customer experience.
