ASIM, aug 06
At the 2024 Farnborough International Airshow, VoltAero announced significant milestones for its Cassio electric-hybrid aircraft family. Key highlights included a pre-order agreement with Global Sky for 15 Cassio aircraft and a collaboration with Sigma Air Mobility on advanced air mobility solutions. Kawasaki Motors, a propulsion partner, unveiled its roadmap for developing aero piston engines. These announcements underscored VoltAero’s progress and the strategic partnerships aimed at advancing regional air mobility and sustainable aviation.
The partnership with Global Sky positions it as a potential launch customer in Southeast Asia. The agreement involves defining routes, assessing airport compatibility, and establishing recharging infrastructure for Cassio aircraft in the region’s evolving aviation ecosystem. Additionally, the collaboration with Sigma Air Mobility aims to develop advanced air mobility solutions, including a pilot route demonstration in Europe. This partnership focuses on setting industry standards for recharging infrastructures and exploring operational models to support regional air mobility’s growth and decarbonization.
VoltAero’s CEO, Jean Botti, highlighted the Cassio family’s role in advanced air mobility, emphasizing its efficient parallel electric-hybrid power system. Unlike eVTOLs, Cassio aircraft are designed for regional distances using existing airport infrastructure. The integration of Kawasaki Motors’ piston engines, capable of operating on sustainable fuels and hydrogen, enhances Cassio’s hybrid propulsion. This collaboration aims to provide high power-to-weight ratio engines, challenging traditional turbines in general aviation by offering better cost efficiency and lower emissions. The Cassio aircraft utilizes an electric motor for all-electric power during various flight phases, with the piston engine acting as a range extender and backup, ensuring a fail-safe functionality.
