US AAM developer Wisk Aero has partnered with the City of Long Beach in California through its Long Beach Economic Partnership (LBEP) to make AAM a reality in southern California. The two organisations will work to create an AAM working group composed of business, local government and community leaders that will focus on evaluating, planning and implementing AAM in Long Beach, with a focus on autonomous flight. Wisk and LBEP will co-chair the working group for an initial two-year term.

“We are excited to work with the City of Long Beach and LBEP in this unique partnership,” says CEO Gary Gysin. “With its rich aerospace past, current resurgence via Space Beach and its central position in the LA metro area, Long Beach is an ideal city for all-electric, autonomous urban flight opportunities. Through this partnership, Long Beach has the opportunity to be one of the first cities to realise the economic and environmental benefits of AAM, as well as to lead southern California and the United States in autonomous, all-electric AAM.”

Over the next two years, the working group will examine four key areas to evaluate the opportunities and impacts that AAM represents for Long Beach. These areas include an analysis of the economic impact and workforce development; community acceptance and outreach; integration of autonomous AAM into city transportation plans; and federal and state government funding opportunities.

With support from Wisk, LBEP will coordinate the development of an economic impact study that will be conducted by the Cal State Long Beach Office of Economic Research. The study will estimate the annual economic impact of AAM operations in southern California and other regional state economies. The results of the study are expected to be completed later this year.

“Aerospace innovation has always been a strong part of Long Beach history,” adds Mayor Robert Garcia. “We have produced some of the world's most modern aircraft, are leading in the space economy and will now be home to new technologies in advanced air mobility. We look forward to our partnership with Wisk and are proud of our local workforce who are educated, trained and poised to make progress on these innovations.”

“Long Beach has long been a centre of aerospace culture and capabilities,” says working group co-chair Randal Hernandez, the immediate past chair of the LBEP and former chairman of the City of Long Beach's Economic Development Commission. “Autonomous, all-electric AAM represents the next revolution in commercial aviation and promises significant economic benefits with minimal environmental impact. We are proud to partner with an AAM leader like Wisk to further explore the benefits that AAM can bring to the City of Long Beach, the southern California region and the state as a whole.”