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New hope for flying taxis in Paris
In a significant step toward urban air mobility, German electric aircraft manufacturer "Volocopter" and French helicopter transport company "Jet Systems Hélicoptères Services" announced a long-term partnership to develop flying taxi services in the Paris region. The collaboration focuses on introducing Volocopter's eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) vehicles, starting with the delivery of two Volocity aircraft.
This development, however, depends on the certification of these electric vehicles by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), with both companies emphasizing that this process must be completed before operations can begin. According to Volocopter’s CEO Andreas Fehring, 75% of the EASA inspections have already been completed, and the company is aiming for certification as soon as possible.
Jet Systems Hélicoptères Services, based in Valencia, specializes in helicopter transport, including flights to ski resorts in the Alps. Its CEO, Michel Moulin, envisions using the Volocity aircraft to provide safe, environmentally-friendly, and noise-reducing mobility solutions.
While Volocopter’s project, in collaboration with Paris airport manager Groupe ADP, faced significant setbacks related to technical, regulatory, and legal challenges, the long-term goal remains to create a network of eVTOLs connecting Paris airports, aerodromes, and heliports. In December, the French Council of State annulled a plan to create a take-off and landing platform for these aircraft on the Seine River, but ADP reiterated its commitment to advancing sustainable air mobility solutions.