In a significant move within the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) sector, Wisk Aero has announced the acquisition of Verocel Inc., a company renowned for its software verification and validation (V&V) expertise. This acquisition marks a pivotal step for Wisk, a leader in the autonomous electric air taxi market, as it ramps up efforts to certify its Generation 6 aircraft.
Verocel, established in 1999, has been instrumental in the V&V of high-integrity software products, particularly in the aerospace industry, for over two decades. The company is known for its participation in industry standards committees such as RTCA/Special Committee, EUROCAE Working Group, and the FAA’s Overarching Properties Working Group. Verocel’s proprietary toolset, VeroTrace, is critical for defining, tracking, and submitting software certification requirements to the FAA.
“High-integrity software development is critical for our mission to certify an autonomous, electric aircraft with V&V being a significant portion of the total software certification effort,” stated Brian Yutko, CEO of Wisk. He emphasized that the acquisition is strategic, bringing onboard a team with deep experience and a rigorous approach to software development, which is expected to accelerate Wisk’s certification projects.
The acquired team from Verocel consists of over 50 specialized software engineers based in Westford, Massachusetts, and Poznan, Poland. Their expertise has been sharpened on more than 160 projects for over 25 clients, including prior collaborations with The Boeing Company. Notably, Verocel has also developed safety computers for the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), enhancing GPS accuracy and integrity for global aviation navigation.
Jim Chelini, President of Verocel, commented on the acquisition: “Wisk is a perfect alignment for Verocel, both in the long and short term. Not only is this a chance to directly apply our expertise to the certification of a groundbreaking technology, but this is also an incredible opportunity for Verocel talent to excel within Wisk and the broader Boeing ecosystem long term.”
Post-acquisition, Verocel will continue fulfilling its existing customer commitments while also contributing to Wisk’s ongoing efforts to bring its Generation 6 autonomous, electric air taxi to the skies. This strategic alignment underscores Wisk’s commitment to enhancing the safety and reliability of its next-generation aircraft, further cementing its role in shaping the future of urban air mobility.
About Wisk: Wisk is a fully-owned subsidiary of Boeing, operating as a vanguard in the AAM industry. Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area with global locations, Wisk has accumulated over a decade of experience with more than 1700 test flights. The company’s mission is to provide safe, sustainable urban air travel, transforming daily commutes with its innovative eVTOL technology.