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Pilot-training group Airways Aviation will collaborate with hybrid-electric aircraft developer VoltAero in the development of its Cassio family of aircraft. Under a memorandum of understanding signed on June 25, the two French companies agreed that to work together to develop plans for using the four-, six- and 10-seat Cassio 330, 480, and 600 models for scheduled and on-demand flights in southern France.
Airways Aviation, which is based at Montpellier-Méditerranée Airport, also intends to use the fixed-wing Cassio aircraft to develop pilot-training courses for electric aircraft. It intends to develop a flight simulator for the type&nbsp;and also build a syllabus to include topics such as airports and ground infrastructure.
VoltAero’s French launch customer intends to buy 15 of the Cassio aircraft, with deliveries due to start in 2023. The agreement did not specify which version of the aircraft family Airways Aviation will receive. In July 2020, U.S. on-demand flight provider Kinect Air committed to acquiring between 10 and 20 of the Cassio aircraft.
The deal was signed during an event called “For a Quieter and Cleaner Sky,” which include a flight by VoltAero’s Cassio 1 technology demonstrator.&nbsp;VoltAero said that it aims to complete type certification under EASA CS-23 rules by early 2023. It started flying the technology demonstrator earlier this year and has also been approved to receive up to around €13.1 million ($15.7 million) in funding from the European Union’s Green Deal Strategy and Recovery Plan.
The company, which was founded by&nbsp;former Airbus chief technology officer Jean Botti, already has partnerships with airport infrastructure group Edeis and aerostructures specialist Sonaco. It intends to construct the Cassio aircraft at a purpose-built final assembly line in the Nouvelle Aquitaine region of southwest France, where it is based. Partners in North America and Asia may be offered the chance to produce the aircraft under license in these regions.
According to VoltAero, it expects to produce around 150 aircraft per year and pricing will be, "in line with equivalent single piston engine aircraft that are on the market today." The Cassio 330 will feature a combined power rating of 330 kW, and this increases to 480 kW and 600 kW for the larger members of the family.
The aircraft will feature three of Safran’s Engineus 45 electric motors and a 370-hp internal combustion engine, collectively driving a five-bladed pusher propeller. Its projected range is up to around 750 miles and with a speed of around 230 mph.
Airways Aviation has more than 30 years of experience in training pilots and ground operations staff. In 2019, it expanded its operation through the acquisition of French aviation training organization Ecole Supérieure des Métiers de l’Aéronautique.
“Our mission at Airways Aviation is to train, educate,&nbsp;and shape a new generation of industry professionals, and we do it in a socially responsible manner so this is a natural partnership with VoltAero,” said the company’s president, Mauro Calvano. “As we believe VoltAero’s Cassio will be a game-changer, we also are looking at the potential for air taxi operations with the aircraft in beautiful southern France and the Mediterranean area.”

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Airways Aviation Signs as Launch Customer for VoltAero's Cassio Hybrid-Electric Aircraft

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The reworked design for the hybrid-electric Cassio pusherprop will offer range of up to 920 nm, seating between four and six passengers.

VoltAero Unveils Production Version of Hybrid-Electric Cassio 

VoltAero today achieved the first flight with its Cassio hybrid-electric aircraft. The French company is looking to fast track type certification of the nine-seater&nbsp;by the end of 2021 and be ready to make first deliveries in early 2022.
The Cassio, which is similar in design to a Cessna 337 Skymaster, is intended&nbsp;for roles such as private transportation and air-taxi flights. It is powered by a pair of 80-hp Safran ENGINeUS 45 electric motors with forward-facing propellers and three 80-hp Emrax electric motors driving a rear pusher prop. The aircraft also has a 402-hp internal combustion engine (based on a Nissan V6 design) that recharges the battery pack and provides redundancy and supplementary power.
The first flight at VoltAero’s headquarters at Medis in western France took place around two weeks ahead of schedule. VoltAero was founded in 2018 by former Airbus chief technology officer Jean Botti and his technical director Didier Esteyne, who together helped to lead the European manufacturer’s E-Fan electric aircraft program.
With hybrid electric power, the fixed-wing Cassio is expected to have a maximum flight duration of up to three and a&nbsp;half hours and a cruise speed of around 200 knots. In all-electric mode, it should be able to fly for up to 30 minutes, including takeoff and landing.

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