Construction bids now sought for building of VoltAero industrial facility

Construction bids are now being sought for a 7,400-square metre facility where assembly and deliveries of VoltAero’s Cassio electric-hybrid family of aircraft will take place. The premises will include three Cassio aircraft final assembly lines, along with a workshop, logistics area and offices.

June 2024 is the target date for VoltAero to take full occupation of the premises. The project’s cost of €4.4 million (excluding tax) includes road access to the site, as well as a tarmac area for the assembled Cassio aircraft, and a taxiway that connects to the Rochefort – Charente-Maritime Airport’s runway.

The French government will contribute €665,000 as part of the National Fund for Territorial Planning and Development (FNADT). Discussions are underway with the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region and the Agglomeration Community of Rochefort-Océan for their financial support of the project.

Jean Botti, VoltAero founder and the company’s CEO and Chief Technical Officer, congratulated the Syndicat Mixte on its construction go-ahead for the assembly site. “This is an important milestone in our development and represents one more step towards decarbonised aviation, which we will create together. We also are proud to contribute to the economic development of France’s Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.”

VoltAero is continuing the development of its Cassio electric-hybrid aircraft family, benefiting from the validation of the company’s proprietary electric-hybrid powertrain with flight tests of its Cassio 1 demonstrator – which has logged 135 flight hours while flying more than 10,000 km. Cassio aircraft will be offered in three versions. The initial configuration to be produced is the five-seat Cassio 330, powered by a 330-kilowatt electric-hybrid propulsion system. VoltAero’s follow-on six-seat Cassio 480 will have an electric-hybrid propulsion power of 480 kilowatts, while the Cassio 600 is sized at a 12-seat capacity with electric-hybrid propulsion power of 600 kilowatts.

Certification of Cassio is expected at the end of 2024, with the first aircraft expected to be delivered from VoltAero’s Rochefort – Charente-Maritime Airport facility in early 2025. (£1.00 = €1.15 at time of publication).