The French government has given the go-ahead for a floating vertiport in the Seine near the Gare d’Austerlitz, a project which is likely to be opposed by the Paris local authority.
Flights will be limited to two movements per hour (between 0800 am and 0500 pm) and the vertiport will be exclusive used by Volocopter.
According to the decree (via google translate):
“Having regard to the technical investigation carried out by the DSAC-Nord and its conclusions dated 2 July 2024…The creation, by Aéroports de Paris, of a heliport located on the territory of the city of Paris (Quai d’Austerlitz, 13th…arrondissement) is authorised.
“This heliport is called “Vertiport de Paris-Austerlitz”….This helipad is open to public air traffic. It is reserved for the use of VTOLs. Pursuant to Article 1-1 of the Decree of 6 May 1995 relating to aerodromes and other locations used by helicopters, amended by the Decree of 24 April 2022, only the use of the heliport… – by the “Volocity” type VTOLs of the manufacturer Volocopter is authorized.
Considering that it is important to limit the operating conditions of this platform taking into account its experimental nature, the helipad is subject to the following restrictions: – the helipad may be operated until 31 December 2024 at the latest; – limitation of the helipad’s operating hours between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.; – limitation of the number of flights to two movements per hour and to 900 flights over the entire experiment.”
But according to an AFP report: “But many city officials in Paris have derided the plans as harmful to the environment. People close to mayor Anne Hidalgo told AFP Tuesday that city hall would challenge the landing pad permit in court. France’s national environment authority found that an impact assessment for the landing pad was “incomplete” on issues including noise pollution, energy consumption and greenhouse emissions.”
For more information
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(Image: Volocopter)