Press Release

Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “JAL”) and Wisk Aero (hereinafter "Wisk") have entered into a basic agreement to study the system such as maintenance management for autonomous aircraft without pilots in order to realize a society in which people are able to move safely and freely across the sky. JAL Engineering Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “JALEC”), which is in charge of aircraft maintenance for the JAL Group, will continue coordination and cooperation on certifications and maintenance systems.

The realization of eVTOL (Electric Vertical Take-off and Landing aircraft *1) is expected to expand the possibilities of air utilization, while eVTOL requires the same level of safety and reliability in maintenance and operation as that of aircraft. Under the shared philosophy of creating a new world of safe and comfortable flying for everyone with eVTOL, JAL and Wisk will contribute to the realization of the social implementation of autonomous aircraft by combining JAL's expertise in flight safety and Wisk's technological capabilities in developing autonomous aircraft.

Overview of partnership:
1. Study for the establishment of system and regulation of autonomous aircraft in Japan
2. Study on demonstration flight of autonomous aircraft in Japan
3. Collaboration and cooperation in obtaining JCAB certification for autonomous aircraft

(* 1) Refers to a small aircraft that can take off and land vertically by rotating multiple rotors with an electric motor. It is attracting attention as a next-generation urban transportation method that combines drone and electric vehicle technologies.

About Wisk
Wisk is an advanced air mobility (AAM) company which was founded in 2019 as a joint venture between Boeing and Kitty Hawk, with hubs in San Francisco and New Zealand. With more than 10 years of development and experience based on more than 1600 test flights, Wisk is developing the world's first 4 seat autonomous eVTOL, aiming to realize safe and comfortable futuristic travel.