VoltAero inaugurates production facility
French hybrid-electric aircraft developer VoltAero has opened its production facility in France’s Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.
The purpose-built 2,400sqm (25,833sqft) facility, located at Rochefort Airport near the town of Saint-Agnant in the Charente-Maritime department, will be the primary hub for production and delivery of VoltAero’s Cassio aircraft line, according to the company. It has been designed to produce up to 150 aircraft per year, with plans to build additional production sites in other key markets.
Jean Botti, CEO and chief technology officer said: “We are addressing the highly important market requirement to connect thousands of communities and regions around the world with truly sustainable and efficient advanced regional air mobility – while remaining fully compatible with the airport and air traffic control infrastructure.”
The facility has been designed with an emphasis on sustainability, said VoltAero. It meets or exceeds the requirements of France’s RT 2005 regulations for energy-efficient buildings. Additionally, the build also included a mixed concrete and wood structural design and the use of wooden floors where appropriate, along with rainwater harvesting and photovoltaic panels.
The facility has direct access to Rochefort Airport’s 2,280m (7480ft) runway, as well as the availability of the region’s road, rail and sea transportation links.
Alain Rousset, president of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, said: “VoltAero’s presence here underscores the capability of Nouvelle-Aquitaine to offer resources for the development of skills and solutions for tomorrow; as well as attracting, guiding and training talent to meet recruitment challenges for the new professions in sustainability.”
VoltAero’s first production aircraft version will be the Cassio 330, so-called due to its hybrid-electric propulsion power of 330 kilowatts. The 330 comes in a four- or five-seat configuration. VoltAero plans to follow it with the six-seat Cassio 480, upping the propulsion power to 480 kilowatts. The firm then intends to develop the Cassio 600, a 10- to 12-seat aircraft with 600 kilowatts of propulsion power.
The Cassio aircraft will use Safran ENGINeUS electric motors for all-electric power during taxi, take-off, primary flight if the distance travelled is less than 150km (93miles) and landing. The hybrid feature – with an internal combustion engine from Kawasaki Motors – can recharge batteries in flight to extend the range. It also adds a level of redundancy in the event of an issue with the electric propulsion system.
