Volocopter will test flight taxis (eVTOLs) in Singapore

Florian Reuter of Volocopter

Volocopter, the aviation taxi provider, announced at the Autonomy Conference in Paris that it will conduct a test series of urban flights in Singapore. These tests are scheduled for the second half of 2019 and are actively supported by the Ministry of Transport (MOT), the Civil Aviation Authority (CAAS), and the Economic Development Board (EDB) of Singapore.

The aim of the flight testing is the operational validation of the Volocopter in Singapore’s urban environment. In a next step, public demonstration flights will follow. Volocopter and the CAAS will jointly define the scope of the flight tests. It defines the necessary regulatory and technical requirements for the aircraft and the infrastructure.

In addition, Volocopter will build a local product design and engineering team for further expansion. In addition, Volocopter is now evaluating partners in the areas of real estate development, mobility services, infrastructure development and others, with whom the company intends to co-operate with taxis in Singapore.

Volocopter are emission-free electrically driven multicopters that can take off and land vertically. They resemble a helicopter, are based on drone technology and can fly two people for almost 30 km. Volocopter are designed specifically for the city centre. They fly even with micro turbulence around skyscrapers around stable and are characterised by a pleasant feeling of flight for the passengers. Volocopters fly so quietly that they are no longer audible at an altitude of 100 m in front of the normal urban noise. 

“Air taxis or eVTOLs have the potential to sustainably change mobility and logistics in cities. Volocopter is leading the aviation industry in this innovative technology. CAAS is pleased to work with Volocopter. We will investigate the technical possibilities, jointly develop appropriate operating guidelines and enable the flight testing in Singapore, “says Mr. Ho Yuen Sang, director (Aerospace) CAAS. 

Mr. Tan Kong Hwee, managing director of EDB Singapore says, “Volocopter’s decision to build a local product design and engineering team demonstrates Singapore’s attractiveness as a location for talented aerospace engineers and the industry.” We are pleased to welcome Volocopter to Singapore our future cooperation. “ 

“We are in the starting blocks to implement the first fixed air taxi routes in cities,” says Florian Reuter, CEO of Volocopter. “Singapore is a logical partner: The city is a pioneer in technology and urban development. The collaboration is another important step towards our goal of making airline taxis.

“Already since 2016, Volocopter has received a provisional permit from the German authorities and is in close contact with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), from which the company is a commercial Approval is sought. Volocopter flies regularly in Germany and has been flown several times in the past several times. 

In September 2017, Volocopter conducted an unmanned test flight over Dubai. There, the Bruchsaler company is a partner of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and is working on integrating autonomous air taxis into passenger transport.

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