Sigma Air Mobility and VoltAero to collaborate with Cassio 330
Luxaviation Group Sigma Air Mobility is to partner with VoltAero on integration of the latter’s hybrid-electric Cassio aircraft, with the first prototype aircraft expected to fly by the end of this year.
The collaboration will provide an opportunity for the partners to jointly “develop industry technical standards for airport recharging infrastructures, facilities and the related technologies; along with the potential collaboration on operating models, economics and decarbonisation trends and metrics to further adjust growth plans,” explained VoltAero.
Speaking to members of the press, CEO and chief technology officer of VoltAero Jean Botti described the initial five-seat Cassio 330 aircraft as “the beginning of a game changer;” something that will make executive travel “more democratic” (as compared to current biz-jet aircraft in operation). With the first prototype to be fully assembled by the end of this year, flight testing is anticipated to start from early 2025, with the aircraft to have finished EASA type certification validation processes by the end of next year.
Although Sigma have not yet confirmed the numbers involved, it will initially take one or two units for testing. “The MOU aligns our two companies’ extensive aviation experience on a pragmatic and tangible path to market, validating Cassio operations and its infrastructure and ecosystem with a very local and streamlined pilot project,” commented Sigma Air Mobility CEO Christophe Lapierre.
Although the location for the pilot project is also as-yet unspecified, the initiative will build on Sigma’s experience a network operator. Lapierre added that regional air mobility represents a “significant market opportunity in the 300-plus kilometre range,” with subsequent future models of the Cassio family – including six and 12 passenger variants – to further expand the aircraft’s value to operators such as Sigma.
