Ex-RNZAF group captain joins e-air taxi developer

Catherine MacGowan will oversee Australasia operations and expansion of advanced air mobility firm Wisk Aero’s presence in the broader Asia Pacific (APAC) region.

Wisk is developing an electric, self-flying air taxi in the US and trialling the “Cora” electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in Canterbury.

MacGowan joins the company as its new Asia Pacific region director after serving as a group captain in the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) and holding several New Zealand Defence Force leadership positions.

She has also served in senior leadership roles for the New Zealand Government.

MacGowan will be on Wisk’s executive leadership team and oversee all operations in Australasia, as well as the expansion of Wisk’s presence in the wider APAC region, responsible for overseeing key existing projects, including Wisk’s airspace integration trial.

In addition to Wisk’s US focus, the Australasia region remains a core element in Wisk’s broader strategy and will play a key role in the company’s growth and go-to-market efforts announced in its recent funding announcement, the company says.

“Since Wisk’s arrival in New Zealand, our work in this progressive part of the world has made a significant contribution to the development of our all-electric, self-flying air taxi,” Wisk chief executive Gary Gysin says.

“Catherine’s strong leadership skills and her in-depth understanding of the aerospace environment will be of huge value to Wisk and our mission to make safe, everyday flight a reality.”

MacGowan says Wisk is pioneering a new way to fly.

“Wisk’s commitment to safe, sustainable and accessible travel is something that really resonates with me and I’m excited to be part of such a passionate and highly-skilled team.”

The eVTOL autonomous air taxi will allow passengers to skip traffic and get to their destination faster, Wisk says.

It’s Canterbury-based eVTOL called Cora was included in an electric aircraft display in Christchurch early last year.

Based in the San Francisco Bay Area and New Zealand, Wisk is an independent company backed by The Boeing Company and Kitty Hawk Corporation.

With more than a decade of experience and at least 1500 test flights, Wisk is shaping the future of daily commutes and urban travel, safely and sustainably.