Wisk Aero’s Self-Flying Air Taxi Project Gains Traction in Houston
A yellow electric flying taxi with no pilot onboard could soon fly over Houston. Wisk Aero, a California-based company backed by Boeing, is moving forward with plans to bring its self-flying air taxi to the city’s skies. The company has already secured support from the City of Sugar Land, Houston Airports, and NASA.
Wisk introduced its Generation 6 eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft) at the 2025 Xponential tech conference in downtown Houston. Designed for short city-to-city travel, the aircraft can lift off vertically, fly on electric power, and operate without a pilot. Ground-based teams monitor each flight remotely, ensuring safety while allowing passengers to travel above traffic.
Earlier in 2024, Wisk signed a partnership with the City of Sugar Land. Together, they plan to study how to build a vertiport at Sugar Land Regional Airport. This vertiport would support takeoffs, landings, maintenance, and pilot training for the new aircraft. City officials see the partnership as a way to meet growing transportation demands as Sugar Land continues to expand.
Wisk CEO Brian Yutko said in a public statement, “Sugar Land is growing quickly. We need new, efficient ways to move around the region. That’s where we come in.”
In addition, Wisk reached an agreement with the Houston Airport System. Over a 12-month period, both parties will explore potential vertiport sites at George Bush Intercontinental (IAH), Hobby Airport (HOU), and Ellington Field (EFD). These studies will help determine how Wisk’s electric air taxi system can connect major city hubs.
Unlike helicopters, Wisk’s aircraft is quieter, fully electric, and produces no emissions. Since it doesn’t require a pilot, the model could reduce costs and open up new travel options for short regional trips.
Here are some key features of the Houston-bound air taxi:
- Four passenger seats with no onboard pilot
- 100% electric propulsion system
- 90-mile range on a single charge
- Cruise speed of about 120 mph
- Recharge time: 15 minutes
- Remote monitoring by trained ground crews
NASA Partnership
In May 2025, Wisk signed a five-year agreement with NASA. Through this partnership, they will test how pilotless aircraft like the Generation 6 can safely operate in U.S. airspace under instrument flight rules. By running simulations, Wisk and NASA aim to build safer routes, communication protocols, and automated responses to in-flight conditions.
Erick Corona, Wisk’s Director of Airspace Operational Integration, explained, “This partnership lets us test what future air travel could really look like, long before passengers ever step inside.”
However, Wisk still needs to clear several major steps. The aircraft must pass FAA safety certification before it can enter commercial service. The company will also need to finish designing and building vertiports, while continuing public demos and infrastructure planning.
If everything moves ahead as expected, Wisk hopes to begin commercial service in Houston by the end of the decade—possibly by 2029 or 2030. Until then, Houston residents can expect to hear more about vertiport construction, flight tests, and community engagement.
More…
- https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/transportation/article/wisk-flying-taxi-display-houston-20336651.php
- https://www.flyingmag.com/boeing-air-taxi-unit-wisk-partners-with-nasa-to-integrate-self-flying-aircraft/
- https://wisk.aero/news/press-release/wisk-aero-houston-airports-partner/
- https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2025-05-21/nasa-and-wisk-team-autonomous-air-traffic-integration
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