Volocopter Successfully Conducts First Flight Test in Downtown Manhattan Heliport

Volocopter, a trailblazer in urban air mobility (UAM), marked a significant milestone by completing its inaugural flight test at the Downtown Manhattan Heliport (DMH) in New York City (NYC). The crewed Volocopter 2X, hosted by Mayor Eric Adams and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), participated in the world’s largest public event showcasing multiple electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in a city.

An Air Taxi in New 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 safe, 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 heart of two of the world’s busiest metropolitan hubs, NYC and Singapore.

As part of the public showcase, the City of New York unveiled a vision for the future of the Downtown Manhattan Heliport, emphasizing a commitment to reducing emissions, noise pollution, and enhancing the quality of life for residents. The initiative seeks to transform heliports like DMH to accommodate eVTOL aircraft, diversifying mobility options to alleviate congestion in one of the world’s busiest cities.

New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) President & CEO Andrew Kimball stated, “EDC’s new strategy for the Downtown Manhattan Heliport reflects priorities of driving technology innovation and economic growth while making it an industry leader in the embrace of eVTOLS – a quieter and greener helicopter alternative.”

Volocopter’s Managing Director, Christian Bauer, expressed enthusiasm about the successful flight, stating, “Our flight in NYC proves that we have everything required to make this emerging technology flourish in this city. We are confident this will open doors to air taxi commercial operations in more cities in the U.S., and we look forward to flying again soon in 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 completed over 2,000 successful public and private test flights. The company anticipates receiving final certification for its commercial eVTOL aircraft, the VoloCity, from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in 2024. Concurrently, Volocopter is in the validation process with the FAA, submitted in 2020, to bring urban air mobility to life.

For more information about Volocopter and its commitment to transforming urban air mobility, visit www.volocopter.com.

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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry.  Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.

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