Volocopter has successfully completed a crewed test flight at the Aerodrome of Saint-Cyr-l'École, the first bespoke commercial vertiport for eVTOL aircraft integrated within Volocopter's approved flights routes in Paris. This flight initiated the eVTOL operational validation phase, a critical step to making electric flights a norm in the city and beyond. The commencement of this phase holds immense significance for the entire air mobility industry as it will generate practical knowledge for integrating eVTOLs in vertiports and airspaces in megacities worldwide.

The crewed Volocopter aircraft took flight from the inaugurated vertiport of the Aerodrome of Saint-Cyr-l'Ecole, built by French airport operator Groupe ADP, the OEM's longstanding Parisian partner. With this flight, the partners begin their operational validation phase, a pre-commercial test series to mature the eVTOL ecosystem in France that includes flight manoeuvres to and from the vertiport, ground handling, communication with air traffic control, and battery charging and management at vertiports. Validation testing at an eVTOL-bespoke and route-approved location in Saint-Cyr-l'École will give Volocopter a unique advantage in gathering first-hand data on improving its aircraft operations.

This achievement results from over three years of collaborative efforts between Volocopter and Groupe ADP to advance multiple regulatory approvals on infrastructure and aircraft. This includes Volocopter's advisory role involvement as the industry pioneer in the European eVTOL certification programme, airspace operations and infrastructure design influencing the development of the ready-to-operate St Cyr vertiport brought to fruition by Groupe ADP.

Volocopter CEO Dirk Hoke says: “Everyone at Volocopter is incredibly proud of how far the company has come and what it means to fly at Saint-Cyr-l'École. City launches take time to establish a foothold on the ground, and through open communication and dedication, Volocopter has become an embodiment of trust, from our partners, Europe's leading aviation authorities and Paris, which has become one of the most advanced air mobility networks in the world.”

Looking ahead, Hoke continues: “We still aspire to fly at the Austerlitz vertiport later this year. Beyond that, we concentrate on the type certification of the VoloCity and will start the test phase of emergency medical services in Germany together with our partner ADAC Luftrettung in 2025.”

Edward Arkwright, Groupe ADP deputy CEO, adds: “We achieved our objective to fly in Ile-de-France during this exceptional summer. We also met the goal to deliver the first vertiport network, with the launch of the one in Saint-Cyr L'Ecole, which completes our network in Ile-de-France alongside Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Paris-Le Bourget, Paris-Issy les Moulineaux and Pontoise. For now, test flights are carried out without passengers, but once the aircraft is certified, we will test emergency medical flights with Ile-de-France University Hospital Centre. Innovation in the field of aeronautics needs time to remove obstacles regarding safety, but we remain convinced that new carbon-free air mobilities around eVTOLs will offer helpful services that go way beyond the transportation of passengers.”

For this flight test campaign, the company was granted a permit to fly with tremendous support from DGAC, the French civil aviation authority, prior to receiving type certification from EASA. And the conclusion of the multi-day operation was marked by an eVTOL flight test within the premises of the World Heritage Palace of Versailles. Volocopter and its partners aspire to return to Paris later in the year to fly its eVTOL aircraft in central Paris.

As dawn broke over Versailles, Volocopter's aircraft took flight in front of the iconic backdrop of the Grand Trianon and its surrounding gardens. The flight was celebrated on site with the company's longstanding Parisian partners Groupe ADP and DGAC, the French civil aviation authority. The successful execution of this flight reinforces the ultimate attestation of trust in the safety of the aircraft and the Volocopter brand from the French and European aviation authorities, partners and guests who have witnessed Volocopter's countless flights around the world.

Hoke says: “I am elated with the dedication and professionalism of the Volocopter team who spent months to get where we are today. Every new location and flight takes tremendous effort from us, our partners and authorities. The sustainable air mobility community is still at the start line, but today's flight in this exceptional environment was the perfect closing ceremony to our summer, as we look forward to returning to Paris very soon.”

In June 2023, Volocopter and Groupe ADP said they hoped to offer eVTOL services in Paris in time for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, but it seems they were unable to achieve EASA certification in time.