Volocopter Successfully Conducts First Flight Test in Downtown Manhattan Heliport
Volocopter, a trailblazer in urban air mobility (UAM), marked a major milestone by completing its inaugural flight test on the Downtown Manhattan Heliport (DMH) in Latest York City (NYC). The crewed Volocopter 2X, hosted by Mayor Eric Adams and the Latest York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), participated on the planet’s largest public event showcasing multiple electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in a city.
An Air Taxi in Latest York City
In a visually stunning display against the backdrop of Lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge, the Volocopter 2X electric air taxi demonstrated stable, quiet, and smooth flight capabilities while navigating East River conditions. The multicopter design, tailored for short- to mid-range urban missions, produced zero emissions in flight and minimal noise pollution, aligning with Volocopter’s commitment to providing protected, quiet, and sustainable UAM to global megacities.
The success of this flight further solidifies Volocopter’s expertise in urban air mobility, having now safely conducted flights in the guts of two of the world’s busiest metropolitan hubs, NYC and Singapore.
As a part of the general public showcase, the City of Latest York unveiled a vision for the longer term of the Downtown Manhattan Heliport, emphasizing a commitment to reducing emissions, noise pollution, and enhancing the standard of life for residents. The initiative seeks to rework heliports like DMH to accommodate eVTOL aircraft, diversifying mobility options to alleviate congestion in one in all the world’s busiest cities.
Latest York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) President & CEO Andrew Kimball stated, “EDC’s latest strategy for the Downtown Manhattan Heliport reflects priorities of driving technology innovation and economic growth while making it an industry leader within the embrace of eVTOLS – a quieter and greener helicopter alternative.”
Volocopter’s Managing Director, Christian Bauer, expressed enthusiasm in regards to the successful flight, stating, “Our flight in NYC proves that we now have every thing required to make this emerging technology flourish on this city. We’re confident this may open doors to air taxi industrial operations in additional cities within the U.S., and we sit up for flying again soon within the Big Apple.”
The City’s vision aligns with Volocopter’s commitment to sustainable urban air mobility, showcased through its diverse family of eVTOL aircraft, including VoloCity and VoloRegion for passengers and VoloDrone for goods. These aircraft, supported by VoloIQ, the UAM ecosystem’s software platform, offer fast and emission-free connections to destinations.
Volocopter, founded in 2011, employs over 500 people in Germany and Singapore, and has accomplished over 2,000 successful private and non-private test flights. The corporate anticipates receiving final certification for its industrial eVTOL aircraft, the VoloCity, from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in 2024. Concurrently, Volocopter is within the validation process with the FAA, submitted in 2020, to bring urban air mobility to life.
For more details about Volocopter and its commitment to remodeling urban air mobility, visit www.volocopter.com.
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