IATA has hailed the first flight of VoltAero, an electric-hybrid aircraft company, as a significant step in the aviation industry’s path to net zero carbon by 2050.
Glasnevin born CEO of IATA Willie Walsh says that the Cassio family of aircrafts has progressed a series of successful flight tests and plans for production. Since 2019, Cassio S has logged 175-plus flight hours during some 210 flights, operating from 38 regional airports in Europe and England.
In one of the most recent milestones, Cassio S achieved an industry first during September 2023 by flying with 100pc sustainable fuel – from TotalEnergies, which is made from bioethanol produced from waste that originates in French vineyards.
But Mr Walsh emphasised that SAF production is still just 0.1pc of what the industry needs.
The no. 1 Cassio 330 prototype is now being manufactured; flight testing will begin in 2024. It will be followed by the no. 2 Cassio 330 prototype, to be used for the airworthiness certification program and equipped with VoltAero’s full-up hybrid propulsion module.
The company aims to provide efficient and eco-friendly regional air transportation options. Kawasaki Motors has joined the VoltAero industrial team as a strategic partner.
Other companies announced significant efforts in the development and use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) to reduce the environmental impact of flying, including Microsoft, United Airlines, Honeywell, and Southwest Airlines.
