Volocopter completes first New York flight
Volocopter has completed the first test flight of its crewed 2X aircraft at Downtown Manhattan Heliport (DMH) in New York City.
The flight was part of a larger public showcase of…
Volocopter has completed the first test flight of its crewed 2X aircraft at Downtown Manhattan Heliport (DMH) in New York City.
The flight was part of a larger public showcase of multiple electric take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in the city, hosted by the Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC).
The City of New York is aiming to reduce emissions and noise pollution at heliports such as DMH, and reshape them to accommodate eVTOL aircraft.
“The Adams Administration has been a leader in driving technology innovation and economic growth while simultaneously improving quality of life,” said NYCEDC president and CEO Andrew Kimball. “EDC’s new strategy for the Downtown Manhattan Heliport reflects these priorities while making it an industry leader in the embrace of eVTOLS – a quieter and greener helicopter alternative – while at the same time facilitating maritime freight with last mile e-bike deliveries that takes trucks off the roads.”
In 2018, Volocopter conducted its maiden U.S. flight in Las Vegas. Since then, it has flown in Oshkosh, the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Tampa, and now in NYC.
“A New York City flight has always been on Volocopter’s mind when designing an eVTOL that could be safe and quiet enough to fly its busy skies,” said Christian Bauer, managing director of Volocopter. “Our flight in NYC proves that we have everything required to make this emerging technology flourish in this city. This event was an amazing opportunity to showcase how electric air taxis can elevate the quality of life in a city that never sleeps. We are confident this will open doors to air taxi commercial operations in more cities in the US, and we look forward to flying again soon in the Big Apple.”
Volocopter expects to receive a final certification of its commercial eVTOL aircraft, the VoloCity, from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in 2024. The company is also in the concurrent validation process with the FAA, which was submitted in 2020, and has been working with both authorities to bring urban air mobility to life.
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