VoltAero has marked another important step toward the full-scale production of its Cassio electric-hybrid aircraft family with the ground-breaking of a final-assembly line at Rochefort Airport in the Charente-Maritime department of France’s Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.
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This 2,400 m² facility will serve as the build-up site and delivery centre for VoltAero’s all-new product line of Cassio general aviation/regional aircraft. It positions VoltAero at a strategic location in southwest France with a dynamic economy and an established industry presence – including the aviation sector.
The master plan incorporates the potential for VoltAero’s future growth of up to 7,400 m² at Rochefort Airport, as well as enabling suppliers and service providers to develop their own presence as they support the Cassio production.
Aligned with VoltAero’s strategy of introducing Cassio as a highly eco-efficient multi-role aircraft, the company’s Rochefort Airport industrial facility has been conceived with a focus on sustainability. In addition to meeting or exceeding the requirements of France’s RT 2005 regulations for energy-efficient buildings, the project management team went further with features that include a mixed concrete/wood structural design and the use of wooden floors where appropriate, along with rainwater harvesting and photovoltaic panels for electrical power.
The facility’s completion targeted is set for August 2024. It will incorporate the final assembly line, a workshop, logistics area and the design/engineering offices. At full rate, VoltAero anticipates producing approximately 150 Cassio-family aircraft per year.
Advantages of the industrial site for VoltAero include its direct access to Rochefort Airport’s existing 2,280-metre-long x 45-metre-wide runway, as well as the availability of the region’s road, rail and sea transportation links.
