Volocopter took off to the Olympics - but still without passengers

The previously announced start of passenger flights may not have taken place - but in the spirit of the Olympic motto "Taking part is what matters," the Baden-based air taxi manufacturer Volocopter conducted a test flight near the equestrian and pentathlon venue. Company CEO Dirk Hoke spoke of an important milestone.

"The electrification of air transport is a step we must take," he told the German Press Agency. "We are pleased to show that this is not science fiction."

The validation phase for the regular operation of electric flights has now been launched from a newly opened airfield in Saint-Cyr-l'École near Paris.

Type Approval for Passenger Operation Missing

The novel aircraft with multiple rotors on the roof take off and land vertically. They aim to revolutionize aviation and provide an alternative to road traffic, especially in densely populated major cities. Cities are growing significantly but have no room for even more car traffic, as Hoke explained. Air taxis, on which other manufacturers like Lilium are also working, could connect important hubs. However, he made it clear that they are only one of many tools.

"Of course, it does not replace a mass transit system."

The Volocopter model Volocity, for example, is a two-seater. And in Hoke's view, a pilot will have to be on board for many years, thus occupying one of the seats. In France, the flight of the predecessor model 2X was now on display.

For Volocopter to transport passengers, the company from Bruchsal near Karlsruhe needs an approval from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) - which is still pending. Hoke expects that next year, flights in limited numbers could be offered in various cities, with an upward trend.

Still a Reason to Celebrate

Volocopter's original plans were much more ambitious: On the occasion of the Olympic Games, the company wanted to offer three connection routes and two tourist flight routes in Paris. Five landing sites called Vertiports were planned, one of them on a pontoon on the Seine. This was stated in a release in June 2023.

Nevertheless, the test flights are a success. Because at the beginning of the international sporting event, it was still unclear whether these would be approved at all. Additionally, the city of Paris and several organizations had unsuccessfully raised doubts about the operating permit for a start and landing site. Volocopter was also recently plagued by financial difficulties. Government support from Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, which was under discussion, did not materialize. In the end, the money came from investors. So now, a bit of good news.