Volocopter’s Volocity has been granted exclusive permission to operate during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, as confirmed by a recent ordinance published in the France’s official gazette. This approval allows the German aircraft manufacturer to utilize the newly established Vertiport de Paris-Austerlitz heliport on the banks of the Seine River in Paris's 13th arrondissement. The site is designated for public air traffic but exclusively reserved for Volocopter’s VTOLs. These operations are part of a larger effort to showcase advanced transportation solutions during the globally attended event, highlighting Paris’s commitment to innovation.
Despite this milestone, the Volocity’s approval has met with mixed reactions. Paris City Hall has expressed concerns regarding the potential noise pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy consumption associated with the 18-rotor flying taxis. Additionally, the project is under scrutiny by local councils, and there remains an ongoing evaluation by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for necessary certifications. Test flights at Pontoise Airfield have been conducted to review the aircraft's viability for broader use. The flights are expected to serve a dual purpose: not only will they facilitate swift transportation across the city for one or two passengers per trip, but they will also serve as a pilot program to assess the feasibility of integrating flying taxis into Paris’s long-term transportation framework.
Looking beyond the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Volocopter has ambitious plans to extend its reach to other major cities, including Rome, Osaka, and NEOM in Saudi Arabia. The current ordinance allows for up to 900 flights during the Olympic period, each carefully regulated to maintain operational boundaries, such as flying between 8 am and 5 pm with a maximum of two flights per hour. The post-Olympics phase will see flights at altitudes ranging from 120 to 300 meters, hinting at the potential for broader commercial use. By demonstrating their technology on such a prominent stage, Volocopter aims to position the Volocity as a trailblazer in urban air mobility, setting a precedent for future developments in sustainable and efficient city transport solutions.
📷: VOLOCOPTER
