VoltAero is set to bring its Cassio hybrid-electric aircraft to North America, emphasising the technology’s practicality for regional air mobility.
The French startup uses a propulsion system which combines electric motors for taxiing, takeoff, and short flights with an internal combustion engine for longer trips and battery recharging.
Marina Evans, General Director of VoltAero, emphasised the practical advantages of hybrid aircraft for regional aviation. “The primary difference between a hybrid and a fully electric aircraft lies in the fact that a hybrid one possesses significantly larger flight range and autonomy than a fully electric one, making them ultimately more viable for operators to perform passenger or cargo transportation on a regional scale,” she told Zag Daily.
The Cassio models, ranging from five to 12 seats, reduce carbon emissions and fuel costs while offering quieter operations in airport vicinities. Their hybrid systems combine electric motors for short distances and an internal combustion engine for longer trips and battery recharging, providing both flexibility and redundancy.
Evans explained that Cassio’s electric component allows for reduced carbon emissions, lower fuel costs, and quieter operations in airport vicinities, while the hybrid system provides a range extender for longer trips and powertrain redundancy for increased safety. “Hybrid aircraft possess powertrain redundancy, which is an indisputable key advantage that increases operational safety of the aircraft compared to fully electric ones, and which also will contribute to simplifying the overall airworthiness certification process.”
VoltAero plans to certify the Cassio aircraft with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) before seeking validation from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Ewans cited the bilateral agreement between EASA and FAA as a key factor for streamlined certification in North America.
The bilateral agreement between EASA and the FAA simplifies the certification process for aircraft operating in both regions. Known as the Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA), this arrangement ensures mutual recognition of certifications, allowing for streamlined validation rather than duplicating the entire certification process in each jurisdiction.
Partnership with AltiSky
On November 19, VoltAero signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the U.S.-based AltiSky to assemble and distribute the Cassio aircraft across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. The agreement includes plans for a 30,000-square-foot assembly and delivery facility, a training center with a flight simulator, and a network of maintenance hubs.
This collaboration marks VoltAero’s entry into the North American market, expanding on its newly inaugurated production facility at Rochefort Airport in France. The first Cassio model, the five-seat Cassio 330, is expected to enter production soon, followed by a six- and 12-passenger version.
