Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft manufacturer Wisk Aero, a subsidiary of Boeing, on Monday said it became the first in the industry to conduct public demonstration flights of an electric air taxi in Los Angeles County.

Wisk landed in the City of Angels earlier this month, beginning private flight testing out of Long Beach Airport (KLGB) with its fifth-generation eVTOL, also known as Cora. The tests allowed the firm to evaluate autonomous flight operations in a real-world commercial environment, right beside other passenger aircraft.

The flight program was capped off with a public, multitransition demonstration during the airport’s Festival of Flight on Saturday. The one-day event was free and open to the public.

“I am proud to see the future of flight becoming a reality in Long Beach,” said Rex Richardson, the city’s mayor. “Long Beach has been a leader in aviation for decades, and those careers helped build and sustain the middle class here for generations. I am looking forward to working with Wisk and Boeing to create good jobs and integrating a safe, quiet, and environmentally responsible transportation option in Long Beach.”

Unlike its core rivals (with the exception of China’s EHang), Wisk is looking to fly without onboard pilots from the jump, instead relying upon a combination of autonomy and human oversight. It’s also the exclusive provider of autonomy technology for Archer Aviation following the settlement of a prolonged legal battle between the two manufacturers.

As part of that agreement, Boeing contributed to a $215 million investment in Archer, which also included partners Stellantis and United Airlines.

Per Monday’s announcement, Wisk has now completed more than 1,700 test flights. Those include another public demonstration of Cora at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, which the company said was the world’s first for an autonomous, fixed-wing eVTOL. EHang in 2020 made a public flight in South Korea, but its EH216-S is not a fixed-wing design.

Wisk also displayed its four-seat Gen 6 design for VIPs on Capitol Hill during the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Global Aerospace Summit in Washington, D.C., last month. But it did not take flight.

Over the weekend, company representatives met with Mayor Richardson, Los Angeles area officials, and leadership from Boeing—which became Wisk’s sole owner in June—to discuss the future of advanced air mobility (AAM) services in the area.

“Autonomous flight is possible today, and it’s happening now in LA,” said Brian Yutko, CEO of Wisk. “Los Angeles is a target launch city for many in our industry and we are extremely proud to be the first air taxi company to fly in LA—and to have done so with an autonomous aircraft. We are fortunate to have the partnership and support of Boeing throughout the area to help build relationships and advance our mission.”

A Crowded Market?

Though it will not necessarily launch in Los Angeles, Wisk in 2022 formed an alliance with the Long Beach Economic Partnership (LBEP) to evaluate how autonomous electric air taxis, expected to be part of a broader regional network, might impact the local economy.

The partners are also assessing local residents’ willingness to use eVTOL aircraft for short-hop flights over the city’s congested streets. One of the most traffic-heavy metros in North America, Los Angeles is quickly becoming a hot spot for electric air taxis, with Archer, Germany’s Volocopter, and Hyundai subsidiary Supernal all having worked with Urban Movement Labs—an LA government-community transportation partnership—for several years. A fourth firm, Overair, signed a deal with UML in 2022.

By the time Los Angeles hosts the 2028 Olympic Games, the FAA hopes to have enabled U.S. AAM operations at scale, as laid out in its Innovate28 plan. The city itself also anticipates robust operations by then—Joby Aviation, in partnership with Delta Airlines, is expected to be one of the early entrants.

Supernal is also eyeing the LA market, and competition could heat up further with the potential entry of Archer and United. A partnership between the two calls for the airline’s acquisition of up to 200 Midnight eVTOLs to fly passengers to United hub airports—Los Angeles International Airport (KLAX) is one of them.

California in general is something of a hub for eVTOL firms, with Wisk (Mountain View), Joby (Santa Cruz), and Archer (San Jose) all setting up headquarters in the Bay Area. Overair is based in the Los Angeles suburb of Santa Ana with flight testing facilities in nearby Victorville. Supernal, based in D.C., has a research and development facility in nearby Fremont, as well as an engineering headquarters close to Los Angeles in Irvine. Both Joby and Archer have conducted flight testing in the state for years.

In addition, Joby, Overair and several of the aforementioned manufacturers played a pivotal role in the formation of a dedicated AAM advisory committee for the state with the passage of California SB 800, which was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom earlier this month. Many of them expect to fly during the 2028 Olympic Games.

Why Los Angeles?

Wisk recently sponsored research, conducted by California State University at Long Beach, which found that the operation of a 20-vertiport network spanning the Greater Los Angeles-Orange County area could generate $2 million in economic output for every $1 million of initial expenditure. 

More specifically, researchers estimated such a network would create 943 jobs, deliver more than $90 million in labor income, and generate about $173 million in expenditures annually. Construction of the network alone could add more than 2,100 jobs and churn out more than $420 million in economic output, they approximated.

Supernal, meanwhile, is working with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory—within the U.S. Department of Energy—to explore the feasibility, challenges, and opportunities for AAM operations in the Los Angeles area, including the necessary infrastructure.

Besides the potential economic impact and the opportunity to eliminate traffic, LA is viewed by many manufacturers as a promising market for eVTOL aircraft for several reasons.

The city regularly scores an “F” in regard to managing air pollution, which zero-emissions vehicles such as eVTOL aircraft could mitigate. Weather conditions—often clear and sunny outside of the “June Gloom” period each summer—are also ideal for initial AAM operations. And historically, California has been a bastion for environmentally friendly tech, which could raise consumer confidence in the novel aircraft.

Los Angeles may also have a leg up on other U.S. cities when it comes to AAM infrastructure. A 2021 Georgia Tech University survey, published by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, suggested six local airports (including Long Beach Airport and LAX) as potential waypoints for eVTOL passengers.

Additionally, infrastructure in downtown Los Angeles, such as rooftops, “could potentially be converted to vertiports,” the survey noted. Archer and Joby in 2021 each announced Los Angeles as a launch city for their respective vertiport networks. Both are working with parking garage operator Reef to convert parking garage roofs into eVTOL landing pads.

Wisk, too, will need to construct its own vertiports, enlist a partner to build them, or form agreements with airports or FBOs to allow vertical takeoffs and landings. The Boeing subsidiary does not have a firm commercial launch date but has said its Gen 6 model will enter service before the end of the decade.

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The facility will support high-rate production of the 3D-printed Rutherford engine, as well as the development and production of Rocket Lab’s new Archimedes engine that will power its new Neutron rocket.

• READ MORE: Virgin Orbit Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection

The Neutron medium-lift rocket is designed for mega-constellation deployment, deep space missions, and human spaceflight, and according to Rocket Lab, will be reusable.

Following manufacturing, the Archimedes engines will be transported to NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Hancock County, Mississippi, where they will undergo testing.

“From there, the Archimedes engines will be integrated onto the Neutron launch vehicle in preparation for liftoff from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 3 at Virginia Spaceport Authority’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport within NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia,” the company said. 

This week, Rocket Lab said it completed cryogenic and maximum expected operating pressure (MEOP) testing on a Neutron Stage 2 tank. “Armed with a wealth of data from this campaign, the next Neutron stage 2 tank is progressing at pace,” the company said in a message on X, formerly known as Twitter.

As part of structural testing we push our tanks to Maximum Expected Operating Pressure (MEOP)…and far beyond. It's always fun to round out an intensive test campaign with a bang!

Armed with a wealth of data from this campaign, the next Neutron stage 2 tank is progressing at… https://t.co/Zk0ePk8TIU pic.twitter.com/2BqJjBOASQ

— Rocket Lab (@RocketLab) October 4, 2023

Rocket Lab acquired the lease on its new Long Beach facility, as well as the factory’s production assets, in May for $16.1 million.

“This Engine Development Center builds on the legacy of the Rutherford engine and signals a new era at Rocket Lab with the development of Archimedes, our new large [liquid oxygen]/methane engine, which will power the reusable Neutron rocket,” Peter Beck, Rocket Lab founder and CEO, said in a statement. “By co-locating our engine development center near our Long Beach headquarters and production complex, we’ve maximized collaboration between our engineering and manufacturing to ensure streamlined efficiency as we continue ramping up Electron launch cadence and get closer to Neutron’s debut launch.”

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“We are pretty big into social media,” Lauren said. “We have an Instagram page, @hangarsisters, and we started it to connect with our family. Everyone was wondering, especially on my mom’s side, who aren’t big into aviation, what we do at the airport. It has been such a great way to connect with our family, rather than having a big group text or something like that.” 

Prior to the sisters’ foray into Instagram, the popular social sharing app was largely devoid of content related to hangars. The pair’s success on the platform can, in part, be attributed to the type of aviation content they share. 

“Our videos are mainly of us pulling the planes out and the actual plane itself with music added,” said Lauren, who studied marketing and communications in college. “One of our videos blew up and has about 38,000 likes now, and we have over 20,000 followers. “It’s cool to introduce social media into this world. And it’s really exciting for us because we get to combine the things we like to do.” 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lauren & Cat Stevens (@hangarsisters)

But before starting her coursework, Lauren was uncertain whether she would pursue a career in aviation—even though she grew up in a family of aviators. Both of her parents, as well as her paternal grandparents, are pilots. The sisters regularly flew with them as children. Additionally, their father was also involved in the business side of aviation, starting Plane Fax, a marketing and aircraft history solutions provider, long before his daughters were born.

“I was getting super-involved, and then right when I was getting into my pilot journey, my dad unfortunately passed away in September of 2019.” she said. “My sister and I took a break from everything, and I honestly didn’t ever know whether I would ever be able to be in an airplane again as a pilot, nor be a part of the industry because we were so close with him, and it was such a tough thing to go through.”

A conversation with her mother in the middle of 2021 inspired Lauren to return to the cockpit. Now, she has her private pilot certificate and Cat is a student pilot.

“I was talking with my mom, and I felt really inspired to try a flight lesson again.,” Lauren said. “Then I met my instructor, who is amazing, and I was flying a lot with her. That’s when everything started clicking, and then Cat and I started running Plane Fax together.

“Our office is actually located in our hangar at Long Beach Airport (KLGB), which we have the master lease on. We’ve always been around hangars our whole lives, storing my dad’s planes or whatnot. But that’s when we started diving into the storage of airplanes and how this real estate works in this type of space.”

The sisters’ current long-term tenants include a light jet, turboprop, and two pistons.  

“We started ‘Hangar Sisters’ in November of 2022 but have been running the hangar for quite some time,” Lauren said. “Sometimes we will have other planes that aren’t as long term, but that’s how we have our business structured. It’s not just someone that comes in and out for the night. Sometimes we have tenants that are on a month or two lease, but some we’ve had for over five years. It really just depends, but we are always willing to work with someone that wants to do something short term, but it’s usually at least a month [term].” 

Not only are the sisters responsible for keeping the hangar full, but they are also active in its daily operations.

“Cat and I actually pull the planes in and out of the hangar and have a couple of tugs,” Lauren said. “So, we do that, manage detailing with detailers, and we work with any contract maintenance that needs to come in and work on the planes as well. Then we do order the fuel for our customers, but we can’t sell fuel at the Long Beach Airport ourselves.”

The sisters’ can-do attitude has proven to be a valuable asset in building relationships with aviators at the airport.  

“Something that I’ve noticed about this industry is that it moves so quickly, and we seem to forget about the best part, which is the people,” Lauren said. “You meet so many people, whether it’s a pilot, someone working on the plane, or its owner. It’s hard to call them a ‘customer’ sometimes because I feel like everyone that we work with now has almost become part of our family. We really value relationships because it’s what makes what we do so fun.”

With decades in the industry to look forward to, the sisters have a long runway ahead of them. Regardless of how their aviation career progresses, Lauren said its foundation is rooted in aviation real estate. 

“An aspect of the industry that Cat and I really appreciate is that there are so many different avenues,” she said. “And since we are so fresh in our careers, it’s a really exciting time for us, and nothing is out of the question. We have noticed that as we grow our network, opportunities start to unfold. Something that is really exciting for us is aircraft sales, expanding our business, acquiring more hangars, and even possibly chartering. As I continue my pilot career, as well as my sister, I am interested in possibly doing some contract flying.

“I really feel like the world is our oyster at this point, and it’s super exciting. We really are loving what we are doing, so we feel very lucky. It’s a tragic situation obviously, losing our dad, but what we have turned it into has been something so special, and we just know that he is so happy looking down on us.”

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The three-day event this week in Long Beach, California, hosts professional development, networking, and education sessions for aviation career paths, while a handful of special tours take place on Wednesday, February 22, before the main event begins and runs from February 23 to 25.

Last year’s conference, in Nashville, hosted more than 4,500 attendees from around the world and more than 170 exhibitors.

Industry Briefings

The primary value of the conference to many attendees has traditionally been its role in helping match candidates with jobs at leading companies in the aerospace industry. While developed to assist women with attaining their career goals, these opportunities have been open to those of all genders who are members of Women in Aviation International.

The 2023 conference industry briefings start on Thursday, February 23, featuring Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air, UPS, Airbus, JetBlue, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, PSA Airlines, SkyWest Airlines, Frontier Airlines, The Boeing Company, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines, with additional sessions from governmental organizations such as the FAA, and Customs/Border Patrol. Opportunities continue on Friday and Saturday, coupled with hiring events.

General Sessions

On Friday, the first general session features keynote speakers Dr. Michelle Parker, vice president and deputy general manager for the space and launch division of Boeing Defense, Space & Security; Col. Merryl Tengesdal (USAF Ret.), the first and only Black woman to pilot the Lockheed U-2S Dragon Lady; and Dr. Susan Ying, senior vice president of global operations for Ampaire. For Saturday’s general session, keynote speakers include Maya Ghazal, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador and Syrian pilot; Sherrexcia “Rexy” Rolle, vice president of operations and general counsel for Western Air; Huy Kim Tran, director of aeronautics at the NASA Ames Research Center; and Paige Stanton Wilson, chief operating officer for Acubed.

Education Sessions

A variety of topic streams are featured at this year’s conference, including lean manufacturing, airspace in the modern age, and mental health in both pilot and maintenance careers. Longer sessions take place on Thursday, with additional one-hour presentations on Friday and Saturday beginning after the general sessions each day. These cover tracks such as personal development, career, maintenance/tech ops, military, history, and innovation.

The closing banquet on Saturday night announces the last of the scholarship winners for the year—with a value of $889,140 for the taking—and hosts the induction of the 2023 members to the Pioneer Hall of Fame. This year’s inductees include Martha and John King, Nancy Bird, and Col. Merryl Tengesdal.

Girls in Aviation Day on Saturday

Just like last year, WAI will bring in girls from ages 8 to 18 from around the region on Saturday, February 25, to take part in Girls in Aviation Day, part of the organization’s events throughout the year that culminate in GIAD 2023 on September 23.

For the Saturday portion of the conference, activities run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Throughout the day, hands-on activities lead participants through a broad range of aerospace touchpoints and concepts. A luncheon features Stephanie Chung, global ambassador for Wheels Up, and a career panel will introduce the girls to a variety of career paths. Preregistration is required.

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