VoltAero and Sigma Air Mobility are working together to plan Cassio electric-hybrid aircraft demonstration pilot projects, with a focus on air ambulance mission.
“This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was announced today during a press conference at the 2024 Farnborough International Airshow, bringing VoltAero’s pioneering development of the Cassio airplane family and its company’s unique parallel electric-hybrid propulsion system together with Sigma Air Mobility’s expertise as a network operator,” said a company press release.
“The pilot project envisioned in the agreement will showcase the Cassio’s capabilities in operational conditions, while also fostering local network growth and defining use cases. Its location will be announced later this year. Also identified in the MoU is the joint opportunity to develop industry technical standards for airport recharging infrastructures, facilities and the related technologies; along with the potential collaboration on operating models, economics and decarbonization trends and metrics to further adjust growth plans.
Christophe Lapierre, the CEO of Sigma Air Mobility, said that regional air mobility represents a significant market opportunity in the 300-plus kilometer range, which has been largely under-addressed to date. Additionally, electric-hybrid CTOL (conventional take-off and landing) aircraft can more easily leverage existing infrastructure, while Cassio’s fixed wing design with its dual propulsion system provides a simplified path to certification.
The Cassio electric-hybrid aircraft family will be produced in three versions: the five-seat Cassio 330; the Cassio 480 with six seats; and the 10-12-seat Cassio 600.
Cassio aircraft will utilize the ENGINeUS 100 electric motor in the aft fuselage-mounted hybrid propulsion unit for all-electric power during taxi, takeoff, primary flight (if the distance traveled is less than 150 km.), and landing. The hybrid feature – with the internal combustion engine – comes into play as a range extender, recharging the batteries while in flight. Additionally, this hybrid element serves as a backup in the event of a problem with the electric propulsion, ensuring true fail-safe functionality.
“By integrating VoltAero’s patented electric-hybrid propulsion system into the company’s purpose-designed airframe, the Cassio aircraft will deliver an order of magnitude higher performance as compared to the current competition and provide significantly lower operational costs. VoltAero will assemble the Cassio aircraft in a purpose-built facility that is being completed this August at the Rochefort Charente-Maritime Airport in France’s Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.”
(Image: The view from the Cassio mock-up flight deck at Farnborough International 2024)
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