SkyGrid to Develop AAM Automation Tools for FAA
SkyGrid, an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) service provider, has been awarded a task order by the FAA's Center for Advanced Aviation Technologies. Under the contract, SkyGrid will lead the development of cooperative separation evaluation tools designed to increase the automation and scalability of future AAM operations.
- SkyGrid operates as a subsidiary of Wisk Aero, Boeing's autonomous electric air taxi venture, positioning it at the intersection of Boeing's aerospace manufacturing legacy and Wisk's focus on pilotless flight. - The company is led by CEO Jia Xu, who previously served as the CTO for unmanned aerial systems and urban air mobility at Honeywell Aerospace and held roles in autonomy at Airbus and General Atomics. - The core technology, AerialOS™, is an airspace management platform that uses AI for tasks like dynamic routing and deconfliction and incorporates blockchain for regulatory compliance and security. - The work is part of the FAA's broader strategy for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), which anticipates a future with a high tempo of operations in urban areas requiring a shift toward collaborative, automated traffic management. - The concept of "cooperative separation" that SkyGrid will develop involves aircraft digitally sharing flight intent and data, allowing for more automated, system-level deconfliction rather than relying solely on traditional pilot-to-controller communication. - This specific task order will run through February 2027 and is designed to produce analytical data and a proof-of-concept system that will inform future FAA operational concepts and technical standards for AAM. - The Center for Advanced Aviation Technologies (CAAT) is a new national initiative sponsored by the FAA and led by Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi to accelerate the integration of AAM and other emerging aviation technologies into the national airspace.
