Ellington Airport in Houston, Texas, will host the first joint project between Wisk Aero and Signature Aviation under a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The initiative will examine how autonomous Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) services could be integrated into airport infrastructure.
At Signature Aviation’s facilities at Ellington, the two companies are developing concepts for vertiports, including potential layouts, passenger handling processes and technical requirements. Planning will accommodate Wisk’s Generation 6 autonomous, all-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The work also involves assessing operational workflows and infrastructure to support autonomous services.
This project forms part of broader planning between Wisk, a developer of autonomous eVTOL aircraft, and Signature Aviation, operator of a global network of private aviation terminals. The partnership will look at other sites across Signature’s network, including locations in Houston, Los Angeles and Miami, to evaluate their suitability for AAM operations.
Dan Dalton, VP of Global Partnerships at Wisk said:We are very excited to collaborate with Signature Aviation to pioneer the future of autonomous flight. As the world’s largest network of private aviation terminals, Signature’s forward-leaning approach to aviation modernisation aligns with our vision. Together, we’re building the robust infrastructure and integrated network essential for safe, scaled operations, starting with our focused efforts at Ellington. This collaboration represents a critical pathway toward bringing autonomous air travel to communities.
The assessment process will cover commercial, financial, regulatory, technical and operational considerations. The MoU also sets out a framework for possible future commercial agreements between the companies.
According to Wisk, the collaboration with Signature and the Houston Airport System aims to prepare airports for the integration of autonomous air transport. Signature Aviation says the work will inform its strategy for adapting its network to accommodate new forms of air mobility.
Derek DeCross, Chief Commercial Officer, Signature Aviation said:Our partnership with Wisk highlights another significant step in our continued innovation and dedicated sustainability leadership within aviation. Advanced air mobility represents a transformative opportunity to shape the future of our industry and together with Wisk, we are proactively exploring the infrastructure and strategic planning necessary to expand our exceptional, forward-thinking guest experience across our network in the future.
