Bruchsal, Germany-based urban air mobility (UAM) firm Volocopter has received Production Organisation Approval, and has acquired long-time partner, composite aircraft production firm DG Flugzeubau. With this acquisition and certification, Volocopter now becomes the world’s first and only eclectic vertical take-off and landing company holding both Design Organisations Approval and Production Organisations Approval.
Why is this important? Up until now, we’ve seen demonstrations, perhaps even walked around one at an event, but the reality of flying taxis has been nothing short of a far-off vision for most of us. Unless you live in Singapore perhaps.
These certifications are paving the way for actual real-life Volocopter taxi and cargo drone services to be a reality in a not-so-far-off world. There’s a lot of EASA rules and regulations to be adhered to (Part 21G and Part 21J, for example). Once Volocopter completes type certification and obtains the air operator approval, they are on track to have the first commercial aircraft to market.
Through the acquisition of DG Flugzeugbau, Volocopter will integrate the formers aircraft production segment and EASA Part 21G Production Organisation Approval. The entire staff at DG Flugzeugbau will now become part of the Volocopter family. In a statement, Volocopter indicated that part of the acquisition agreement will retain existing sailplane production contracts.
“Our ten-year partnership with DG Flugzeugbau has been an extraordinary learning experience. Having this legendary industry leader on our side to kick-start scalable and affordable UAM for people and cargo has been a game-changer. Today marks an exciting milestone as we unify DG Flugzeugbau’s leadership in aviation production with Volocopter’s pioneering UAM goals to establish yet another crucial stepping-stone for our collective global endeavors,” commented Volocopter CEO Florian Reuter.
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