Latest news with #SebastienVigneron
Business Wire
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Wisk Establishes Miami as Early Market for U.S. Air Taxi Operations
PARIS & MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Wisk Aero, a leading Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company and developer of the first all-electric, self-flying air taxi in the U.S., 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). These collaborations mark a significant step towards integrating safe, autonomous air travel to Miami, Florida, one of the nation's largest metropolitan areas. Wisk establishes Miami as early market for air taxi operations. Share 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. 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 Utilize University of Miami resources and facilities, and pursue grant opportunities for joint projects and product development. "Miami has demonstrated long-standing support for AAM, making it a natural fit for future Wisk operations,' said Sebastien Vigneron, CEO of Wisk. "We're incredibly excited to deepen our roots here with both the Miami Dade Aviation Department and the University of Miami. These partnerships are helping us build the entire AAM ecosystem and unlock the full potential of autonomous operations at scale so we can bring safe, everyday flight to everyone.' 'I am extremely excited about this historic first step toward making Miami-Dade County one of the first areas in the country with advanced air mobility,' said Daniella Levine Cava, Miami-Dade County Mayor. 'This collaboration with Wisk allows us to strategically plan for the future of air travel, enhance connectivity, and explore new economic opportunities for Miami-Dade County. MIA is the busiest airport in Florida and the second busiest in the country for international passengers, which makes it the perfect launch site for AAM.' 'At the University of Miami, we are leveraging faculty expertise and cutting-edge research to help make autonomous air mobility a reality,' said Pratim Biswas, Dean of the University of Miami College of Engineering. 'Through our collaboration with Wisk, we are advancing core technologies like advanced sensors and next-generation battery systems that are essential to making AAM safe and scalable. This partnership exemplifies how academic innovation and industry leadership can come together to make autonomous urban flight possible.' Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami have been national leaders in local planning for AAM, bringing together industry and government. Wisk has been championing AAM in the Greater Miami region for the past couple of years as an inaugural member of the Florida Department of Transportation's AAM Advisory Council. Wisk was a contributing author to the Council's "AAM Land Use Compatibility and Site Approval Guidebook," the "AAM Working Group Final Report," and the "AAM Implementation and Outreach Plan.' The Miami region joins Houston, Texas, Los Angeles County, California, and Brisbane, Australia as key launch markets in Wisk's strategic plan to bring safe, everyday autonomous air travel to cities around the world. About Wisk Wisk is an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company dedicated to creating a future for air travel that elevates people, communities, and aviation. Wisk is developing the first autonomous, passenger-carrying electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi in the U.S. Wisk is a wholly-owned Boeing subsidiary and is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, with locations around the world. With over a decade of experience and over 1750+ test flights, Wisk is shaping the future of daily commutes and urban travel, safely and sustainably. Learn more about Wisk here.
Business Wire
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Wisk and Japan Airlines Engineering Sign Memorandum of Understanding with The City of Kaga to Accelerate Advanced Air Mobility in Japan
PARIS & MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Wisk Aero, a leading Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company and developer of the first all-electric, self-flying air taxi in the U.S., today announced 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. Wisk deepen commitment to Japan with Kaga City MoU Share 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. 'We are excited to deepen our commitment to Japan and further our partnership with JAL through this new collaboration with Kaga City,' said Sebastien Vigneron, CEO of Wisk. 'Japan is a key market for the introduction of AAM, and Kaga City's forward-thinking approach to future mobility, coupled with its special zone designation, provides an ideal environment for us to explore and demonstrate the benefits of our Gen 6 aircraft. This partnership is a significant step towards building the necessary ecosystem for autonomous flight in Japan.' 'This three-way partnership will play a central role in realizing autonomous AAM in Japanese society,' said Hiroki Haraikawa, Vice President of Marketing & Sales, JALEC. 'JALEC, together with Wisk and Kaga City, leverages this opportunity to demonstrate the emerging technology and build the nationwide trustworthiness about the safety of autonomous operations.' 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.' About Wisk Wisk is an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company dedicated to creating a future for air travel that elevates people, communities, and aviation. Wisk is developing the first autonomous, passenger-carrying electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi in the U.S. Wisk is a wholly-owned Boeing subsidiary and is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, with locations around the world. With over a decade of experience and over 1750+ test flights, Wisk is shaping the future of daily commutes and urban travel, safely and sustainably. Learn more about Wisk here.
Business Wire
09-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Wisk Advances Its Autonomy Capabilities; SkyGrid to Become a Wisk Subsidiary
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Wisk Aero, a leading Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company and developer of the first all-electric, self-flying air taxi in the U.S., today announced that SkyGrid, an AAM Third-Party Service Provider (TSP), will become a subsidiary of Wisk. Through their strategic alignment, Wisk and SkyGrid will work together to address the critical challenges necessary for expanding safe, efficient, and autonomous flight and collaborate on their shared goal of bringing Wisk's Generation 6 aircraft to market. SkyGrid to become subsidiary of Wisk, enabling airspace integration of autonomous systems Share Wisk, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Boeing, is currently progressing through Type Certification with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its Generation 6 autonomous aircraft. SkyGrid will support Wisk's future operations with tailored digital solutions that enhance real-time situational awareness, seamless airspace integration, and advanced decision-making. These capabilities not only enable safe operations but are essential for scaling autonomous aviation as demand continues to grow. 'To unlock the full potential of Advanced Air Mobility, we must also have advanced airspace,' said Sebastien Vigneron, CEO of Wisk. 'By collaborating with SkyGrid, we're vertically integrating our own aircraft autonomy technologies with their established airspace automation capabilities, accelerating the path to safer, more efficient air travel in the national airspace system.' This collaboration will be instrumental in enabling Automated Flight Rules, a crucial component for the safe and efficient integration of autonomous aircraft into the national airspace. SkyGrid, with its aircraft-agnostic platform, will continue to support a targeted and strategic external customer base across airspace integration, autonomous aviation, and Air Traffic Management (ATM) automation. By leveraging its advanced technology and expertise, SkyGrid enables scalable, interoperable solutions that serve a wide range of vehicle types and mission profiles. 'This alignment with Wisk marks an important step in the advancement of autonomous aviation,' said Jia Xu, CEO of SkyGrid. 'By deploying our comprehensive airspace integration capabilities with Wisk's autonomous eVTOL technology, we are paving a path to safe, efficient, and increasingly autonomous operations for all. Together, we are doing the hard, practical, and necessary work to unlock aviation autonomy and digital airspace.' The future of autonomous flight demands collaboration across the industry, from regulators and research institutions to stakeholders globally. SkyGrid and Wisk are working together to advance autonomy through the development of future airspace operations, global deployment opportunities, and sustained testing and operational validation. This partnership helps ensure that advancements in AAM are practical, scalable, and responsive to the evolving needs of the industry. About Wisk Wisk is an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company dedicated to creating a future for air travel that elevates people, communities, and aviation. Wisk is developing the first autonomous, passenger-carrying electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi in the U.S. Wisk is a fully-owned Boeing subsidiary and is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, with locations around the world. With over a decade of experience and over 1750+ test flights, Wisk is shaping the future of daily commutes and urban travel, safely and sustainably. Learn more about Wisk here. About SkyGrid SkyGrid, a Boeing Company, exists to open the sky for autonomous flight. Based in Austin, Texas, SkyGrid builds high-assurance third-party services to enable the safe operation and integration of autonomous aircraft. SkyGrid also acts as the operational nexus for Advanced Air Mobility, integration, and managing data, infrastructure, access, and traffic to support scaled operations.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Wisk Advances Its Autonomy Capabilities; SkyGrid to Become a Wisk Subsidiary
Wisk and SkyGrid deepen focus on enabling airspace integration of autonomous systems and digitizing airspace MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., June 09, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Wisk Aero, a leading Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company and developer of the first all-electric, self-flying air taxi in the U.S., today announced that SkyGrid, an AAM Third-Party Service Provider (TSP), will become a subsidiary of Wisk. Through their strategic alignment, Wisk and SkyGrid will work together to address the critical challenges necessary for expanding safe, efficient, and autonomous flight and collaborate on their shared goal of bringing Wisk's Generation 6 aircraft to market. Wisk, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Boeing, is currently progressing through Type Certification with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its Generation 6 autonomous aircraft. SkyGrid will support Wisk's future operations with tailored digital solutions that enhance real-time situational awareness, seamless airspace integration, and advanced decision-making. These capabilities not only enable safe operations but are essential for scaling autonomous aviation as demand continues to grow. "To unlock the full potential of Advanced Air Mobility, we must also have advanced airspace," said Sebastien Vigneron, CEO of Wisk. "By collaborating with SkyGrid, we're vertically integrating our own aircraft autonomy technologies with their established airspace automation capabilities, accelerating the path to safer, more efficient air travel in the national airspace system." This collaboration will be instrumental in enabling Automated Flight Rules, a crucial component for the safe and efficient integration of autonomous aircraft into the national airspace. SkyGrid, with its aircraft-agnostic platform, will continue to support a targeted and strategic external customer base across airspace integration, autonomous aviation, and Air Traffic Management (ATM) automation. By leveraging its advanced technology and expertise, SkyGrid enables scalable, interoperable solutions that serve a wide range of vehicle types and mission profiles. "This alignment with Wisk marks an important step in the advancement of autonomous aviation," said Jia Xu, CEO of SkyGrid. "By deploying our comprehensive airspace integration capabilities with Wisk's autonomous eVTOL technology, we are paving a path to safe, efficient, and increasingly autonomous operations for all. Together, we are doing the hard, practical, and necessary work to unlock aviation autonomy and digital airspace." The future of autonomous flight demands collaboration across the industry, from regulators and research institutions to stakeholders globally. SkyGrid and Wisk are working together to advance autonomy through the development of future airspace operations, global deployment opportunities, and sustained testing and operational validation. This partnership helps ensure that advancements in AAM are practical, scalable, and responsive to the evolving needs of the industry. About Wisk Wisk is an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company dedicated to creating a future for air travel that elevates people, communities, and aviation. Wisk is developing the first autonomous, passenger-carrying electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi in the U.S. Wisk is a fully-owned Boeing subsidiary and is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, with locations around the world. With over a decade of experience and over 1750+ test flights, Wisk is shaping the future of daily commutes and urban travel, safely and sustainably. Learn more about Wisk here. About SkyGrid SkyGrid, a Boeing Company, exists to open the sky for autonomous flight. Based in Austin, Texas, SkyGrid builds high-assurance third-party services to enable the safe operation and integration of autonomous aircraft. SkyGrid also acts as the operational nexus for Advanced Air Mobility, integration, and managing data, infrastructure, access, and traffic to support scaled operations. View source version on Contacts Media Contact: Carrie
Business Wire
07-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Wisk Appoints Sebastien Vigneron as New CEO, Brian Yutko Transitions to Leadership Role Within Boeing
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Wisk Aero, a leading Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company and wholly owned subsidiary of Boeing, today announced the appointment of Sebastien Vigneron as its new Chief Executive Officer. Sebastien, who previously served as Wisk's Senior Vice President of Engineering and Programs, will succeed Brian Yutko, who is transitioning to a leadership role within Boeing's Commercial Airplanes Division (BCA). Wisk Appoints Sebastien Vigneron as New CEO, Brian Yutko Transitions to Leadership Role Within Boeing Share Sebastien Vigneron brings a wealth of experience and deep understanding of Wisk's technology and strategic direction to his role as CEO. Previously at Wisk, Sebastien drove Product Development of the company's Generation 6 aircraft, including the Autonomy and Airspace Integration technologies. He also oversaw the Hardware & Software Engineering, Simulation, Systems Test, Flight Test, and Program Management teams. Sebastien's appointment comes at a significant time for Wisk, as the company prepares to fly its Gen 6 aircraft and progress on its certification path. His background and intimate knowledge of new aircraft development are key to accelerating Wisk's path towards commercialization. 'Having been deeply involved in our journey over the last four years, I'm incredibly honored to lead Wisk into this next chapter as we bring our Gen 6 aircraft to market,' said Sebastien Vigneron. 'This is a truly exciting time for the company and AAM as a whole. I look forward to guiding our talented team through this critical stage and leveraging the enhanced collaboration with Boeing to bring safe, autonomous flight to everyday life.' Brian Yutko will become Vice President of Product Development at Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA). In this role, Brian will provide strategic oversight and support to Wisk. 'Leading Wisk as CEO and being a part of the incredible progress our team has made on our Gen 6 product has been a true privilege,' said Brian Yutko. 'I'm honored to join the storied Product Development team at Boeing at this important time in history, and to connect the pioneering technologies and bold spirit of innovation we've cultivated at Wisk. Sebastien is an incredible leader, and I look forward to continuing to work closely with him and the Wisk team as we fly Gen 6, progress our certification program, and enter service.' A wholly owned subsidiary of Boeing, Wisk will continue to operate as is and lead the path forward on bringing the first autonomous, passenger-carrying aircraft to market in the U.S. Sebastien Vigneron brings over 20 years of experience in new aircraft development to his role as CEO. Before joining Wisk in 2021, Sebastien was Vice President of Product Development Engineering and Chief Engineer at Virgin Hyperloop where he led the development of the Hyperloop system, a new mode of transportation from requirements capture through design, build, and test. He also held leadership and technical roles at Bombardier and Dassault Aviation, developing type-certified aircraft from initial concept through flight testing and certification. He has a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering from École Polytechnique in France and a Master's degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University. About Wisk Wisk is an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company dedicated to creating a future for air travel that elevates people, communities, and aviation. Wisk is developing the first autonomous, passenger-carrying electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi in the U.S. Wisk is a wholly owned Boeing subsidiary headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, with locations around the world. With over a decade of experience and over 1750+ test flights, Wisk is shaping the future of daily commutes and urban travel, safely and sustainably. Learn more about Wisk here.
