Sky2Share, a Switzerland-based aviation company that offers fractional ownership and is focused on radically decreasing the CO2 footprint of its operations, has placed a pre-order with VoltAero for 15 electric hybrid Cassio aircraft.

This commitment begins with the five seat Cassio 330, but incorporates some flexibility to add the six seat Cassio 480 and 12 seat Cassio 600 versions. The pre-order was announced at EBACE in Geneva, Switzerland, and means VoltAero has now lined up a total of 218 orders and commitments for its Cassio product line.

“The Cassio is perfectly tailored for Sky2Share’s ambitious goal of providing productive and environmentally conscious mobility services that reduce business aviation’s environmental footprint,” says Jean Botti, VoltAero CEO and chief technology officer.

Sky2Share co-founder and CEO Selim Franko adds: “We are impressed with VoltAero’s progress in developing the Cassio aircraft family’s clean sheet design, which offers the right solution for our economically-viable and socially-responsible services as a truly sustainable alternative to traditional business aviation. We are thrilled that the Cassio family will allow us to radically reduce the environmental impact of our operations.”

VoltAero’s airframe configuration for the Cassio is based on a sleek, aerodynamically-optimised fuselage, a forward fixed canard and an aft-set wing with twin booms that support a high set horizontal tail. By integrating VoltAero’s patented electric-hybrid propulsion system into the company’s purpose-designed airframe, the Cassio aircraft family is expected to deliver an order of magnitude higher performance compared to the current competition and provide significantly lower operational costs.

Production Cassio aircraft will be built in three versions powered by 330kw, 480 kw and 600kw electric-hybrid propulsion systems, each sharing a high degree of modularity and commonality. The family will provide a capable product line for charter companies, regional commercial operators and private owners, as well as in utility category service for cargo, postal delivery and medevac applications.

First to enter service will be the Cassio 330, with five seats and powered by the 330-kilowatt electric-hybrid propulsion system. VoltAero’s follow-on Cassio 480 will have an electric-hybrid propulsion power of 480 kilowatts, while the Cassio 600 is sized at a 12-seat capacity with electric-hybrid propulsion power of 600 kilowatts.

VoltAero is headquartered at the Aérodrome de Royan-Médis in southwest France, and its Cassio aircraft are to undergo final assembly in a purpose-built facility at the Rochefort Charente-Maritime Airport in France’s Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.