The aerodrome of Pontoise-Cormeilles-en-Vexin (Val-d'Oise) will host from June 2021 tests in real situation of a flying taxi, in the perspective of a demonstrator for the 2024 Olympics, announced Wednesday the Île-de-France region, Groupe ADP and RATP.
It is the electric vehicle with vertical take-off VoloCity, of the German manufacturer Volocopter, which was chosen to carry out the first experiments in Île-de-France of insertion of these devices in a peri-urban environment and an aeronautical environment on the aerodrome located 35 km north of Paris.
The tests will also focus on its acceptance by local residents, safety procedures and maintenance.
“The whole ecosystem” will be tested, explained Edward Arkwright, Executive Director General of Groupe ADP, partner of the project with RATP and the Ile-de-France region, VoloCity, entirely electric, is equipped with 18 engines and nine batteries.
It can carry two people including a pilot.
It flies at 110 km / h, at an altitude of 400 to 500 meters and with a range of 35 km.
The device is in the process of being certified by the European Safety Agency (EASA), explained Fabien Nestmann, one of the managers of Volocopter, adding that the manufacturer hoped for certification by the European regulator within "two to three years. ".
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3 to 5 other manufacturers who have embarked on the race for flying taxis, such as Airbus and its CityAirbus, will be chosen in mid-December.
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