European fractional ownership programme for VoltAero’s Cassio electric hybrid aircraft

VoltAero’s vision for sustainable air mobility is expanding with European fractional ownership for its Cassio electric-hybrid aircraft
May 18, 2022

Royan, France – VoltAero is launching a fractional ownership program in Europe, opening new sustainable air mobility opportunities with its family of Cassio aircraft powered by the company’s unique electric-parallel hybrid propulsion system.

At next week’s European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva, VoltAero will be accepting initial expressions of interest for fractional ownership share positions, beginning with its five-seat Cassio 330 – the first version of VoltAero’s aircraft family to enter production.

Equipped with VoltAero’s proprietary 330-kW electric-parallel hybrid- propulsion system, Cassio 330s are to be positioned at regional & local airports across Europe to meet user demand.

The fractional ownership program subsequently will be expanded with VoltAero’s two other aircraft variants: the Cassio 480, configured with six seats & powered by a 480-kilowatt hybrid propulsion system; & the Cassio 600, with a 10-12-seat capacity & 600 kilowatts of hybrid power. All aircraft three versions share a high degree of modularity & commonality.

“Cassio will open a new era of highly sustainable air transportation in Europe with on-demand flight services for those who join our fractional share ownership,” explained Jean Botti, VoltAero’s CEO & Chief Technology Officer. “It’s highly appropriate that we bring this mobility solution to Europe with Cassio – a truly innovative next-generation aircraft that is developed & built in Europe.

During the three-day EBACE, which opens May 23 at the Geneva Palexpo convention centre, VoltAero’s team will be available on the company’s exhibit for meetings & to sign potential customers for the factional ownership program (Booth IZ_03).

VoltAero’s proprietary electric-parallel hybrid powertrain has undergone extensive flight evaluations with the company’s Cassio 1 demonstrator aircraft, covering nearly 10,000 kilometres in operations across Europe on typical general aviation & air taxi/charter route segments – thereby de-risking it for airworthiness certification.

With this powertrain integrated in the aft pusher position, Cassio aircraft will utilize the propulsion system’s electric motors for all-electric power during taxi, take-off, primary flight, & landing. The hybrid aspect – with an internal combustion engine – comes into play as a range extender, recharging the batteries while in flight. Additionally, this hybrid element serves as a backup for the electric propulsion, ensuring true fail-safe functionality.

The Cassio airframe’s design is based on a sleek, aerodynamically optimized fuselage, a forward canard, & an aft-set wing with twin booms that support a high-set horizontal tail. It will be qualified to Europe’s EASA CS23 certification specification as a single-engine, general aviation category aircraft, & is designed from the start for a low cost of ownership.

VoltAero will assemble the Cassio aircraft in a dedicated production facility at Rochefort Airport in France’s Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. Ground-breaking is scheduled during 2022.

About VoltAero

VoltAero is taking electric aircraft to an entirely new level. Benefitting from 80-plus years of combined pioneering expertise, VoltAero is developing a truly unique general aviation airplane family, Cassio, for safe, quiet, efficient & eco-friendly flight in hybrid-electric & electric modes. A flight demonstrator aircraft is validating the Cassio hybrid-electric powertrain, de-risking it for airworthiness certification & the subsequent application on VoltAero’s new-production airplanes.