Volocopter, the pioneer of urban air mobility (UAM), announced today that it is now an Approved Training Organisation (ATO) from the German Federal aviation office (Luftfahrtbundesamt) through its subsidiary, Volocopter Air Services. This certification allows Volocopter to train pilots for its future products. The company is the first electric take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft developer to receive ATO.
The Approved Training Organisation certification allows Volocopter to deliver training towards pilot licenses. The approval was handed over with zero findings in the final audit. Over the past year the Luftfahrtbundesamt rigorously checked if the company adheres to the strict rules and standards required to produce training materials for the aircraft/simulators that the training will be delivered on.
As part of the approval, the company will now work on the transition to finalize the training program for its electric VoloCity aircraft in close cooperation with the German Federal Aviation office. They have kicked off the approval of the program in preparation for commercial launch of electric air taxis later this year, implementing the newly published EASA regulations applicable to the operation and pilot licensing of this novel category of electric air taxis (eVTOL).
“This is another substantial milestone on the way to bring electric air taxis to cities around the world. It bears witness to the robust aviation company Volocopter has become over the past decade and how diligent and professional our entire team works.” says Oliver Reinhardt Chief Risk and Certification Officer of Volocopter.
Volocopter develops electrically powered air taxis that are set to transform urban transportation. As the first electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) company to receive Design Organisation Approval (DOA) from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in 2019, and over ten years of development experience, Volocopter is the clear leader in this airspace.
Being awarded ATO is an important puzzle piece in the journey towards receiving the Air Operator Certificate – which will allow the company to operate electric air taxis once the VoloCity aircraft receives type certification which is expected later this year.