Volocopter: “40 words tell a major story”
It is fairly obvious Volocopter will be the primary eVTOL Aircraft on show at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games given the German company is the leading European player. Whether this will turn out to be just demonstration flights or as many hope, actual commercial trips for both athletes and the public, who knows. Even so, this has been mere speculation as Volocopter remains tight-lipped.
Yet, last weekend, the company tweeted this. In fact, so proud are they of the news, it is now a pinned tweet.
Read between the 40 words and two factors emerge. First, with President Macron’s blessing, Volocopter will be flying over Paris in July 2024 during the Olympic Games. Second, this event appears to be the chosen official launch for the company’s eVTOL, Volocity.
In a second tweet posted three days later, Volocopter thank all the top German companies they met at the Élysée Palace during the Macron meeting, where Industry support is everything for such an ambitious and groundbreaking plan.
With this in mind, speculation is transformed in to fact. Well, 99% fact anyway, especially when Willi Tacke, founder of eFlight Journal, who holds a font of aeronautical knowledge, said at this week’s U.S Vertical Flight Society Symposium, that EASA has confirmed it is not only fully supporting Volocopter re: The Paris Olympics, but has said that even if the Volocity has not completed its full certification process, the regulator will still give a permit for it to fly over the city during the Games.
Of course, the eVTOL will require take-off and landing sites to achieve this. Transforming heliports to vertiports located close to the River Seine is a natural step. For safety requirements, flying over the Seine as the Volocity’s primary and, perhaps, only flight route in 2024 must be an absolute. Even so, are their opportunities for eVTOL infrastructure companies to construct a vertiport specifically for the Games?
During an evtolinsights.com interview from last June with Damian Kysely, Skyports Head of Europe and the Middle East, he suggests the present trialled vertiport at the primary European eVTOL testbed, Cergy-Pontoise Airport, could be moved to Paris for the Games as it is transportable.
Then to the question, “Groupe ADP (AéRoport De Paris) have said there’ll be at least three different vertiports located in the Paris region during the Games. Where would these be?” Kysely replied, “I believe a majority will be located at either existing ADP-owned airfields or heliports around Paris. We may still be involved in constructing some, we are in the middle of discussions, but as ADP own, control and operate the proposed sites, a number will definitely exist during the Games. There are one or two Greenfield locations in the centre of Paris, based in a non-aviation environment, which are presently being looked at.”
And when asked, “Do you know where the confirmed locations are in Paris?” He responded, “I have been told, but am not allowed to divulge this news, yet. Some will be located in central Paris and others close to the Olympic Village.”
As to the feasibility of actual commercial flights, Kelsey said, “I am 100 percent confident there’ll be a rich number of eVTOL demonstrations over the Paris skies during the Games, but whether there’ll be passengers on-board is another matter. The objective is to provide commercial services. It all depends on how many eVTOLs have gained full certification by then. It is highly attractive for those companies who have, as this offers a first-to-market potential. What I’ve seen and heard in discussions, everything will be done to make commercial flights happen.”
(Image Credit: AirNova)
Another vertiport infrastructure company, French startup AirNova, announced last week plans to create a network of sites around France. Currently, about 20 potential locales are being evaluated.
A company spokesperson told Avionics International, “We plan to develop partnerships with European players to extend the coverage of AirNova vertiports in several European countries, initially bordering on France. Our rooftop Vertiport projects are new constructions that meet the criteria of specifications in line with the the DGAC (the French Civil Aviation Authority), DSAC (Civil Aviation Safety Directorate) and EASA.” AirNova also has ambitious plans to construct 20 global new vertiports per year.
Is AirNova another potential contender for the Paris Olympics eVTOL infrastructure?
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(Top Graphic image: Volocopter)
