Oct 15 (Reuters) - Boeing ( BA )-owned Wisk Aero said on

Tuesday it has partnered with government agency Airservices

Australia to study how air taxis and other autonomous aircraft

can be integrated into the country's airspace.

The move comes as the electric air taxi maker aims to launch

its four-seater autonomous aircraft in Australia before the

Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Wisk is one of the several electric vertical take-off and

landing (eVTOL) aircraft makers that have emerged over the last

few years with a promise to provide an environmentally friendly

mode of transport in congested cities.

Earlier this year, peer Joby Aviation ( JOBY ) applied for

the certification of its eVTOL aircraft in Australia.

However, the industry faces technological hurdles such as

manufacturing batteries that are powerful enough to allow

companies to make more trips on a single charge.

Air taxi makers also need to convince regulators and the

public that such a mode of transport is safe, a barrier that is

higher when the aircraft is autonomous.