FLYING CARS INCH CLOSER TO REALITY AS NEW ZEALAND SIGNS HISTORIC
DEAL
The government of New Zealand has announced a formal agreement with
an American electrical take-off-and-landing (eVTOL) company called Wisk to begin
trials, which both hope will pave the way for regular commercial use. Wisk's
eVTOL, known as Cora, is a small self-flying vehicle meant to fly around 25
miles on a single charge.
"Wisk has been working with the Government and people of New Zealand
since 2017," said Gary Gysin, Wisk's CEO, in a press statement earlier this
week. "We are excited about what this agreement and trial represents in our
journey to bring safe everyday flight to everyone. New Zealand values
innovation, excellence and technology that is safe for people and the
environment. Being selected as the partner for this program is an honor and
testament to our hard work and steady progress."
From New Zealand's perspective, the "Government sees great potential
in the development of an innovative unmanned aircraft sector in New Zealand and
we are in a prime position to work with globally-leading companies here to
safely test and go-to-market," said Canterbury, Research, Science and Innovation
Minister Megan Woods, in a statement of her own.
"As well as the economic and social benefits the growth of this
industry offers, we also share Wisk's vision of a greener, emission-free way for
Kiwis and visitors to New Zealand to get around. Enabling the emergence of an
entirely electric air taxi service is a natural fit with New Zealand's zero
carbon goal by 2050."
Cora won't exactly provide mass transit. According to the Mountain
View, California-based company's website, a Cora can hold exactly two people.
But as a self-flying vehicle, neither of them need be a pilot. It's meant to fly
1500 feet above ground, far lower than the 35,000 that is the common cruising
altitude of most commercial aircraft on the market today.
Rather than an airplane, a better comparison point for a Cora might
be helicopters, which tend to stay below 2,000 feet. But while helicopter rotors
can allow their vertical take off, a Cora achieves the same feat through 12
independent lift fans. It also travels slower than helicopters, moving through
the skies at around 100 miles per hour while a typical helicopter flies at 160
MPH.
"We see this agreement as a sign of confidence in our product and
abilities to develop and deliver a safe and reliable air taxi service, starting
in New Zealand," Gysin added in his statement. With a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) between the comapny and the government signed, preparations
have now begun for the trials to start in New Zealand's Canturbury region. No
timetable for the tests has been given.
Wisk, which is an independent company with financial backing from
Boeing and was once a subsidiary of the Seattle aerospace giant, is far from the
only eVTOL company attempting to prove that the technology has a viable future.
Joby Aviation, another California-based startup, recently signed a deal with
Uber to form an "aerial ridesharing parternship" program, the details of which
will be clear to the public by 2023, the company hopes. An entire burgeoning
industry has formed in hopes of cashing in on this future industry, with a dash
to become first that at times can seem like a race to nowhere. With an MOU
signed, Wisk is betting that a small start will turn into real passengers
sooner, rather than later.
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