Wisk Aero today announced the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) – one with the Miami-Dade Aviation Department (MDAD) and another with the University of Miami’s Engineering Autonomy Mobility Initiative (MEAMI).
“The MOU with MDAD focuses on strategic planning, infrastructure development, policy pathways, and the commercialization of autonomous AAM in Miami-Dade County and at MDAD airports,” said the company in a press release. “Under the terms of the MoU, Wisk and MDAD will collaborate to identify optimal locations and assess the development of vertiport infrastructure at MDAD airports, including Miami International Airport (MIA), Miami Executive Airport (KTMB), and Opa-locka Executive Airport (OPF), to enable Wisk’s autonomous AAM operations.
“Wisk will provide technical guidance on vertiport needs for autonomous operations to inform the design and development of infrastructure and flight procedures, as well as plan for potential site expansion.
“MDAD will incorporate autonomous AAM considerations into existing planning efforts, including airport development, electrical infrastructure, and airspace management, and integrate AAM plans within Miami-Dade County, connecting MDAD airports to the broader region.
The MOU with the University of Miami MEAMI establishes a framework for collaborative research and development that will further advance autonomous mobility technology. Under the terms of the MoU, Wisk and MEAMI will collaborate on research and development for advanced technology, operations, regulations, safety, and overall AAM development; develop business opportunities to advance autonomous mobility technology, specifically within U.S regulatory frameworks; and use University of Miami resources and facilities, and pursue grant opportunities for joint projects and product development.
Wisk also announced today it has signed a three-party Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The City of Kaga, Ishikawa, Japan, and Japan Airlines’ subsidiary, JAL Engineering Co., Ltd (JALEC).
“This unprecedented partnership will establish opportunities for introducing autonomous air travel in Japan,” said Wisk. “Building on Wisk’s existing partnership with Japan Airlines (JAL) and JALEC, the new scope of the collaboration with Kaga City will focus on several key areas, namely:
- Regulatory and airspace system development
- Market analysis and development
- Social acceptance of AAM and autonomous aviation
- Supply chain support and manufacturing opportunities
“Kaga City has been designated by the Japanese government as a national strategic special zone. It has also paved the way for mobility initiatives within the city by establishing the Next-Generation Air Mobility Consortium in Japan. These efforts make Kaga City an ideal location for the development, testing, and validation of autonomous air mobility.”
Riku Miyamoto, Mayor of Kaga City, said, “As the first step in Wisk’s business expansion into Japan, Kaga City will strongly support the establishment of an operations base and support the construction of an AAM operation model in collaboration with JALEC. Kaga City is a local government with a population of approximately 62,000 people, but because the city has been selected as a national strategic special zone, we are able to carry out bold regulatory development in Japan. The advantage of not being a big city like Tokyo or Osaka is that there is a high degree of freedom as a research and development field, and one-stop arrangements are possible.”
For more information
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250615720362/en/Wisk-Establishes-Miami-as-Early-Market-for-U.S.-Air-Taxi-Operations
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250615225644/en/Wisk-and-Japan-Airlines-Engineering-Sign-Memorandum-of-Understanding-with-The-City-of-Kaga-to-Accelerate-Advanced-Air-Mobility-in-Japan
(Images: Wisk)