Wisk.Aero has signed two new Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with both the Miami-Dade Aviation Department (MDAD) and another with the University of Miami’s Engineering Autonomy Mobility Initiative (MEAMI) to progress the integration of safe, autonomous air travel in Miami, Florida.
The MOU signed with MDAD will focus on strategic planning, infrastructure development, policy pathways and the commercialisation of autonomous AAM in Miami-Dade County, as well as MDAD airports.
The terms of the MOU will see both Wisk and MDAD work together to identify optimal locations and development assessments for the implementation of vertiport infrastructure across MDAD’s airports, including Miami International Airport (MIA), Miami Executive Airport (KTMB), and Opa-locka Executive Airport (OPF).
Wisk will also provide technical guidance on necessary vertiport infrastructure requirements, informing both the design and development of infrastructure and flight procedures alongside plans for potential future site expansion.
Daniella Levine Cava, Miami-Dade County Mayor, said: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.
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.
MDAD has stated it will begin to incorporate autonomous AAM into its current planning efforts, including airport development, electrical infrastructure, and airspace management, with extensive AAM plans set to be integrated within Miami-Dade County.
The second MOU, which was signed with the University of Miami MEAMI, sets out to establish a framework for research and development to advance autonomous mobility technology, and will see the two companies collaborate on operations, regulations, safety, and overall AAM development, develop business opportunities to advance autonomous mobility technology (specifically within US regulatory frameworks) and utilise University of Miami resources and facilities for the pursuement of grant opportunities for joint projects and product development.
Pratim Biswas, Dean of the University of Miami College of Engineering, said:At the University of Miami, we are leveraging faculty expertise and cutting-edge research to help make autonomous air mobility a reality.
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.
