Case study: Volocopter in Versailles

The Palace of Versailles – 18km west of Paris – has been the setting for some spectacular events in its three centuries, not least during the recent Olympics and Paralympic Games, where it provided a regal backdrop for everything from dressage to the modern pentathlon. Exciting though these may have been, the most groundbreaking sight at Versailles recently involved neither an athlete nor a thoroughbred, but a vehicle. An electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, to be precise.

Saint-Cyr-l'École

While Versailles may have provided the glamour, this eVTOL’s Parisian journey began somewhere more modest – and more modern. Developed by German sustainable air mobility pioneer Volocopter, the eVTOL made its first crewed test flight at the Aerodrome of Saint-Cyr-l'École, south west of Paris, at the beginning of August.

Built by long-time Volocopter partner Groupe ADP (formerly Aéroports de Paris), Saint-Cyr-l'École is the first bespoke commercial vertiport for eVTOLs to be integrated with Volocopter’s approved flight routes in Paris. It initiated the eVTOL operational validation phase, a critical step to making electric flights a norm in the French capital and beyond. According to Volocopter, the commencement of this phase is significant for the entire innovative air mobility (IAM) industry, as it is expected to generate practical knowledge for integrating eVTOLs into vertiports and airspaces worldwide.

Volocopter CEO Dirk Hoke said: “Everyone at Volocopter is incredibly proud of how far the company has come and what it means to fly today at Saint-Cyr-l'École. City launches take time to establish a foothold on the ground, and through open communication and dedication, Volocopter has become an embodiment of trust, from our partners, Europe’s leading aviation authorities and the city of Paris, which has become one of the most advanced IAM networks in the world.

“We still aspire to fly at the Austerlitz vertiport [a floating vertiport to be built on the River Seine] later this year. Beyond that, we are concentrating on the type certification of the VoloCity [air taxi] and will start the test phase of emergency medical services in Germany together with our partner ADAC Luftrettung in 2025.”

The current phase includes flight manoeuvres to and from the vertiport, ground handling, communication with air traffic control and battery charging and management at the vertiport. Validation testing at an eVTOL-bespoke and route-approved location in Saint-Cyr-l'École will give Volocopter a unique advantage in gathering first-hand data on improving its aircraft operations.

A long time coming

This successful trial is the result of more than three years of work by Volocopter and Groupe ADP to advance multiple regulatory approvals on infrastructure and aircraft. This includes Volocopter’s advisory role as the industry pioneer in the European eVTOL certification programme, airspace operations and infrastructure design influencing the development of the ready-to-operate St. Cyr vertiport, brought to fruition by Groupe ADP.

Edward Arkwright, deputy CEO of Groupe ADP, expressed his delight in the trial: “We achieved our objective to fly in Île-de-France during this exceptional summer. We also met the goal of delivering the first vertiport network, with the launch of the one in Saint-Cyr L’ École, which completes our network in Île-de-France (alongside Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Paris-Le Bourget, Paris-Issy les Moulineaux and Pontoise).

“For now, test flights are carried out without passengers, but once the aircraft is certified, we will test emergency medical flights with AP-HP (Île-de-France University Hospital Centre). Innovation in the field of aeronautics needs time to remove obstacles regarding safety, but we remain convinced that new carbon-free air mobilities around eVTOLs will offer helpful services that go way beyond the transportation of passengers.”

For this flight test campaign, Volocopter was granted a permit to fly by the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC), prior to receiving a type certification (TC) from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

And so to Versailles

Fresh from its success at Saint-Cyr-l'École, Volocopter carried out an eVTOL flight test within the grounds of the World Heritage Palace of Versailles. The flight marked the conclusion of this summer’s multi-day operational validation test campaign. Volocopter and its partners hope to fly an eVTOL aircraft in central Paris later this year.

As dawn broke over Versailles, Volocopter’s aircraft took flight against the backdrop of the Grand Trianon and its surrounding gardens. Among those witnessing the flight were the company’s long-standing Parisian partners Groupe ADP and DGAC.

CEO Hoke said he was elated with the dedication and professionalism’ of the Volocopter team, who had spent months to get to this stage: “Every new location and flight takes tremendous effort from us, our partners and the authorities. The sustainable air mobility community is still at the start line, but today’s flight in this exceptional environment was the perfect closing ceremony to our summer, as we look forward to returning to Paris very soon.” 

Further reading: Changes at the top

September 2024 saw Volocopter announce a raft of leadership changes. Dr Dieter Zetsche, former CEO of Daimler, was appointed chairman of the Advisory Board with immediate effect. He will play a key role in supporting the strategic direction of the company. He succeeds Stefan Klocke, who will remain a boardmember.

Dr Xu Zhihao, CEO of Geely Technology Group, is a new addition to the board. His appointment supports the global orientation of the Board and business. He commented: "The mobility of the future will take place both on the road and in the air. Synergies are obvious, which is why I am delighted to be able to contribute my extensive experience to Volocopter."

Majid Mufti, chief executive officer ofNEOM Investment Fund (NIF), will remain a member of the Advisory Board, Volocopter said in a statement.

The Board has also accepted Dirk Hoke’s request to step down from his position as CEO at the end of February 2025. He said: “I have never experienced such a dynamic company development in this short space of time [two years]. I am firmly convinced that the set-up we have achieved puts us in the best possible position for the successful commercialisation of Volocopter. It has been a privilege to lead this great start-up with its impressive employees. Until the end of February 2025, I will devote all my energy to achieving EASA certification and thus creating an essential building block for the future of Volocopter. At the same time, I am pleased that we have been able to gain an experienced new chairman of the Advisory Board in Dieter Zetsche, who has been with us for a long time, and will simultaneously strengthen our shareholder structure."

Hoke's successor is yet to be announced.