Volocopter

Our flight tests are always our favorite moments to share. Especially when accompanied by testimonials of our incredible team members behind each flight. Hear from our Chief Test Pilot Paul Stone and Head of Test Flight Jaime Hale, and learn more about our test flight by checking out the video below.

Crewed and uncrewed flight tests go hand in hand at Volocopter for innovation and safety! Before any takeoff with our #VoloCity, we meticulously test all aircraft systems, components, hardware, and software updates. Once tested, we then integrate these updates and move on to perform flight tests. Flight testing begins with uncrewed, remotely controlled flights, which allow us to gather vital data and improve our aircraft systems. Only after thorough uncrewed testing do we proceed to crewed test flights. Both uncrewed and crewed flights contribute to the VoloCity’s EASA - European Union Aviation Safety Agency certification, and depending on the test content, we toggle between crewed and uncrewed testing. 👉This testing approach allows us to adhere to aviation safety standards. It also helps our engineers verify that all the systems and components of the VoloCity function properly for maximum safety before a test pilot takes flight!

Have you ever wondered what happens to our #VoloCity aircraft in case of any motor failure during flight? We recently completed multiple uncrewed Electric Propulsion Unit (EPU) failure test flights. VoloCity’s high safety standard compliance means a natural motor failure occurrence is nearly improbable. Therefore, our team intentionally triggered single and dual motor failures at critical rotor positions, including two nearby motors rotating in the same direction. During the test, the aircraft successfully performed different maneuvers: hovering, ascending, accelerating, turning, and descending – in line with its predicted performance. 𝗪𝗵𝘆? To demonstrate that the aircraft performs as expected with any #VoloCity update under EASA - European Union Aviation Safety Agency safety standards. Due to its robust redundancy system, the VoloCity can continue its flight mission and land safely at a designated landing site. This level of performance is ideal for urban environments where safety is a top priority!

Emergency Medical Service operations with VTOL capable aircraft (VEMS) present unique challenges and require additional equipment, tests, and specifications beyond the passenger aircraft use case. In VEMS operations, every second counts. The crew must navigate the aircraft quickly and safely through various airspaces that are shared with other aircraft, including gliders, paragliders, and drones that can only be detected with specific collision avoidance systems. To give that extra level of safety, ADAC Luftrettung and Volocopter started a series of collision avoidance flight tests using enhanced traffic awareness and collision avoidance tools. These tools are crucial for medical personnel's rapid and safe transport to emergency sites. The collision avoidance systems will provide real-time traffic information in 360-degree coverage around the VoloCity, offering better visibility for emergency medical operations. The initial flight test of the series was successful, and we now have the proof to progress to further tests in the new year, where the VoloCity will continue to expand its flight envelope to fly farther, faster, and higher. ADAC Luftrettung and Volocopter’s strong partnership is making significant steps forward to marry safe, sustainable, and quiet flights while preparing for unpredictable, time-critical, and ad-hoc EMS operations conditions.

New milestone unlocked! We have officially completed 75% of the audits required to obtain Type Certification (TC) from EASA - European Union Aviation Safety Agency for our #VoloCity aircraft. This week, we successfully passed a portion of our Electric Propulsion System (EPS) audit, with the EASA team on site. A critical system, such as the EPS, is subject to development assurance audits – showing that software, hardware, and systems are developed in compliance with airworthiness requirements – and is crucial for aircraft certification. Completing three-quarters of the required audits is a significant win for Volocopter as it brings us closer to becoming the first eVTOL designer and developer with an EASA-certified aircraft, paving the way for global expansion.

Teamwork is a value we hold dear at Volocopter! Hardware Systems Engineer Darko Sabljo lives by this value daily – earning him this month's #EmployeeSpotlight. Darko joined Volocopter in 2018. As a key part of our Avionics and Flight Control team, he proactively supports system engineering for the backup flight control computer of the #VoloCity aircraft and prepares necessary documentation for EASA - European Union Aviation Safety Agency Type Certification (TC) flight test components. His colleagues are quick to support that Darko’s contribution to Volocopter goes well beyond his current role. He's known amongst his peers for his "can-do" attitude, always stepping in to help and drive forward critical topics. Darko’s hidden talent? A remote-control test pilot who has supported the Flight Test team for many years and still continues to do so when the team needs him. Now, this is an excellent example of true team spirit!

Rotorcraft can often move loose objects in proximity. These objects – known in aviation as foreign object debris (for short, FOD) – move because of rotor downwash, the downward flow of air created by thrust-generating rotor discs. In the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) context, safety risk is higher as air-based ambulances may land in uncontrolled emergency locations with more FODs. At times, the presence of FODs hinders medical personnel from arriving at incident locations, leading to increased doctor response times. Our #VoloCity aircraft is tuned to produce low downwash due to its 18-rotor configuration, electric propulsion technology, and lightweight design. But how does this enhance EMS? 👉Listen to our Test Pilot, Olivier Renard, provide insights as part of our #VolocopterInEMS series featuring our partner ADAC Luftrettung.

Volocopter makes forward strides in the air and on the ground! Parallel to flight testing, our production team is progressing with the final assembly of our fourth and fifth #VoloCity. Every flight flown and data analyzed is fed back for slight aircraft modifications and improvement, strengthening VoloCity’s integrity towards its type certification. This progress inspires better production flow, maintenance access and training, and product iteration. Building on Volocopter’s decade-long design and development excellence, we are proud to see our efforts bringing safe, quiet, and sustainable #eVTOL to life.

We successfully completed the crucial phase of impact testing on our #VoloCity rotor design as part of our certification roadmap with EASA - European Union Aviation Safety Agency. Agency representatives observed our test procedures, during which our team members tested several impact conditions, including the most critical test with the highest impact energy. 𝗪𝗵𝘆? To obtain product certification from #EASA, we must demonstrate that our VoloCity can endure high-risk impacts on its airframe and rotors from debris or birds, in compliance with the highest safety aviation standards. The rotors will undergo further testing for durability and safe continuation of flight.

Our #VoloCity is designed with safety in mind! By positioning all the rotors above the fuselage, the aircraft enhances safety in all flight missions, especially for Emergency Medical Services (EMS). This design not only minimizes the risk of rotor strikes from foreign object debris, but also adds a new layer of operational safety for staff near the aircraft. All the more so in EMS operations, when multiple people and objects are involved, and time is of the essence. Swipe through our #VolocopterInEMS insight to learn more. ADAC Luftrettung