Volocopter’s Air Taxi, Maiden Flight In Air Traffic Achieved

The German aircraft manufacturer, Volocopter’s electric helicopter or air taxi has successfully achieved maiden flight in conventional air traffic near Paris.

Akin to a large drone with eight rotors, the test unit took off from Pontoise-Cormeilles airport outside Paris and circled the area while other planes were in the airspace.

Test pilot Paul Stone said the helicopter's 'digital fly-by-wire' system and multiple rotors made it easier to fly than a conventional helicopter.

"In a helicopter, when you move one control, three things happen simultaneously and it requires coordination training. In this aircraft, they take away all that difficulty with very simple controls in each axis, that's what makes it easier to fly," he expressed.

According to Volocopter’s Chief Executive Officer, Dirk Hoke, the company will prepare its helicopter for certification in the next 18 months.

Notably, in hopes that it will be ready for short commercial flights by 2024, when Paris hosts the Summer Olympics.

Besides that, it also wants the two-seater aircraft to fly fully autonomously without a pilot, where only passengers are on board.

However, much needs to be done beforehand, namely in terms of infrastructure, airspace integration and public acceptance.

That said, Volocopter is contending with companies around the world, including Lilium, Joby Aviation and Airbus to get the first air taxi certified by regulators. It aims to achieve this within two years.