Volocopter, March 02, 2024 - Bruchsal, Germany - Volocopter, the pioneer of urban air mobility (UAM), announced that it reached a landmark milestone in certification.
It has received the German Federal Aviation Office’s (Luftfahrtbundesamt or LBA) Production Organisation Approval (POA) extension that allows the production of the VoloCity aircraft. This POA extension applies to the two new Volocopter production and hangar facilities in Bruchsal, Germany, that were first unveiled in April 2023.
Volocopter is the world’s first and only eVTOL company to hold both Design Organisation Approval (DOA) and POA. Volocopter received EASA’s DOA in 2019, followed by the initial POA in 2021 with the acquisition of DG Flugzeugbau. This POA extension is industry-first, which lists specifically the approved production of an eVTOL in the POA’s scope of work, from prototyping to serial manufacturing. In layperson’s terms, Volocopter now has the full trust and authority to design and produce the VoloCity in-house autonomously and has entered the pre-serial production stage of manufacturing.
Andreas Fehring, Chief Operating Officer of Volocopter said “This is a major milestone for us. Aircraft design and production are strongly regulated for a good reason: to produce safe mobility products. I am pleased that Volocopter’s production facility has the trust of and stamp of approval from LBA to manufacture commercial aircraft that can be delivered to customers once the VoloCity receives type certification. Our team has proven that we can produce safe and high-quality test aircraft, and we now look forward to shortening our production lead time for scaling.”
Under EASA’s SC-VTOL (Special Condition VTOL) Enhanced certification category, the VoloCity will become the first commercial eVTOL with the highest global safety standards in aviation. Achieving this safety standard allows VoloCity to fly above congested urban areas quietly and efficiently, adding an extra layer of alternative mobility to the transportation mix in cities.
Approved Training Organisation (ATO)
Volocopter, announced that it is now an Approved Training Organisation (ATO) from the German Federal aviation office (Luftfahrtbundesamt) through its subsidiary, Volocopter Air Services. This certification allows Volocopter to train pilots for its future products. The company is the first electric take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft developer to receive ATO.
The Approved Training Organisation certification allows Volocopter to deliver training towards pilot licenses. The approval was handed over with zero findings in the final audit. Over the past year the Luftfahrtbundesamt rigorously checked if the company adheres to the strict rules and standards required to produce training materials for the aircraft/simulators that the training will be delivered on.
As part of the approval, the company will now work on the transition to finalize the training program for its electric VoloCity aircraft in close cooperation with the German Federal Aviation office. They have kicked off the approval of the program in preparation for commercial launch of electric air taxis later this year, implementing the newly published EASA regulations applicable to the operation and pilot licensing of this novel category of electric air taxis (eVTOL).
Oliver Reinhardt, Chief Risk and Certification of Volocopter said “This is another substantial milestone on the way to bring electric air taxis to cities around the world. It bears witness to the robust aviation company Volocopter has become over the past decade and how diligent and professional our entire team works.”
Volocopter develops electrically powered air taxis that are set to transform urban transportation. As the first electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) company to receive Design Organisation Approval (DOA) from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in 2019, and over ten years of development experience, Volocopter is the clear leader in this airspace.
Being awarded ATO is an important puzzle piece in the journey towards receiving the Air Operator Certificate – which will allow the company to operate electric air taxis once the VoloCity aircraft receives type certification which is expected later this year.
It has received the German Federal Aviation Office’s (Luftfahrtbundesamt or LBA) Production Organisation Approval (POA) extension that allows the production of the VoloCity aircraft. This POA extension applies to the two new Volocopter production and hangar facilities in Bruchsal, Germany, that were first unveiled in April 2023.
Volocopter is the world’s first and only eVTOL company to hold both Design Organisation Approval (DOA) and POA. Volocopter received EASA’s DOA in 2019, followed by the initial POA in 2021 with the acquisition of DG Flugzeugbau. This POA extension is industry-first, which lists specifically the approved production of an eVTOL in the POA’s scope of work, from prototyping to serial manufacturing. In layperson’s terms, Volocopter now has the full trust and authority to design and produce the VoloCity in-house autonomously and has entered the pre-serial production stage of manufacturing.
Andreas Fehring, Chief Operating Officer of Volocopter said “This is a major milestone for us. Aircraft design and production are strongly regulated for a good reason: to produce safe mobility products. I am pleased that Volocopter’s production facility has the trust of and stamp of approval from LBA to manufacture commercial aircraft that can be delivered to customers once the VoloCity receives type certification. Our team has proven that we can produce safe and high-quality test aircraft, and we now look forward to shortening our production lead time for scaling.”
Under EASA’s SC-VTOL (Special Condition VTOL) Enhanced certification category, the VoloCity will become the first commercial eVTOL with the highest global safety standards in aviation. Achieving this safety standard allows VoloCity to fly above congested urban areas quietly and efficiently, adding an extra layer of alternative mobility to the transportation mix in cities.
Volocopter now holds Pilot Training Approval
Approved Training Organisation (ATO)
Volocopter, announced that it is now an Approved Training Organisation (ATO) from the German Federal aviation office (Luftfahrtbundesamt) through its subsidiary, Volocopter Air Services. This certification allows Volocopter to train pilots for its future products. The company is the first electric take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft developer to receive ATO.
The Approved Training Organisation certification allows Volocopter to deliver training towards pilot licenses. The approval was handed over with zero findings in the final audit. Over the past year the Luftfahrtbundesamt rigorously checked if the company adheres to the strict rules and standards required to produce training materials for the aircraft/simulators that the training will be delivered on.
As part of the approval, the company will now work on the transition to finalize the training program for its electric VoloCity aircraft in close cooperation with the German Federal Aviation office. They have kicked off the approval of the program in preparation for commercial launch of electric air taxis later this year, implementing the newly published EASA regulations applicable to the operation and pilot licensing of this novel category of electric air taxis (eVTOL).
Oliver Reinhardt, Chief Risk and Certification of Volocopter said “This is another substantial milestone on the way to bring electric air taxis to cities around the world. It bears witness to the robust aviation company Volocopter has become over the past decade and how diligent and professional our entire team works.”
Volocopter develops electrically powered air taxis that are set to transform urban transportation. As the first electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) company to receive Design Organisation Approval (DOA) from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in 2019, and over ten years of development experience, Volocopter is the clear leader in this airspace.
Being awarded ATO is an important puzzle piece in the journey towards receiving the Air Operator Certificate – which will allow the company to operate electric air taxis once the VoloCity aircraft receives type certification which is expected later this year.
See also |
Urban Air Mobility E-Volo Volocopter VoloCity
