The Cassio electric-hybrid aircraft family – which was spotlighted at the recent Bali International Air Show by VoltAero’s regional partner, Global Sky – offers a new era of sustainable aviation for Indonesia and Southeast Asia, with highly eco-efficient applications ranging from regional, business and personal transportation to tourism and medical airlift.
Global Sky’s air show exhibit at Bali’s Rai International Airport highlights the Cassio product line’s capabilities that are fully matched for this market, including the operational safety of its dual-source electric-hybrid propulsion system, the ability to operate from shorter runways at local airports, the reduced noise levels during takeoff and landing, and the low operating costs with single-pilot operation.
VoltAero will produce Cassio in three versions: the five-seat Cassio 330; the Cassio 480 with six seats; and the 10-12-seat Cassio 600. Typical flight range examples for the Cassio 330 – which is the first configuration to enter production – include routes such as Jakarta to Bali in Indonesia, Jakarta to Singapore, Singapore to Phuket in Thailand, and Manila in the Philippines to Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
As VoltAero’s launch customer in Southeast Asia, Global Sky signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the pre-order of 15 Cassio aircraft, enabling the two companies to collaborate on defining routes and operations for these electric-hybrid airplanes, to determine airport compatibility and define the recharging infrastructure at such facilities, and to develop a regional Cassio distribution network.
Global Sky provides aircraft trading services to aircraft owners, with exclusive access to an extensive inventory of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. It also offers a full range of complementary services, including aircraft management, financing and technical support.
Christian Duhain, the CEO of Global Sky, said; “Cassio is perfectly matched with Southeast Asia’s rapidly maturing regional aviation infrastructure, while also meeting the region’s focus on incorporating new technologies to evolve its business and economic goals. We joined forces with VoltAero because I have been impressed by the company’s realistic and attainable development goals for Cassio, bringing together personalities who helped launched the era of e-aircraft.”
Jean Botti, VoltAero’s CEO & Chief Technology Officer, added that Cassio is perfectly tailored for operations in Indonesia and throughout Southeast Asia, saying; “Among the aircraft’s designed-in advantages are the patented dual-source electric/hybrid propulsion system for safety in over-water flights, a low-noise footprint for operations to ecologically-sensitive airports and in after-hours services to deliver freight/cargo, the large cabin and highly accessible loading/unloading for medical airlift flights, and the single-pilot certification for business and private owners/operators.”
VoltAero’s Cassio electric-hybrid aircraft family is in advanced development as a highly capable and reliable product line for regional commercial operators, air taxi/charter companies, private and business owners/operators, as well as in utility-category service for cargo, postal delivery and medical evacuation (Medevac) applications.
The VoltAero propulsion concept is unique: Cassio aircraft will utilize the Safran ENGINeUS electric motor in its aft fuselage-mounted hybrid propulsion unit for all-electric power during taxi, takeoff, primary flight (if the distance traveled is less than 150km.), and landing. The hybrid feature – with the internal combustion engine – comes into play as a range extender, recharging the batteries while in flight. Additionally, this hybrid element serves as a backup in the event of a problem with the electric propulsion, ensuring true fail-safe functionality.
By integrating VoltAero’s patented electric-hybrid propulsion system into the company’s purpose-designed airframe, the Cassio aircraft will deliver an order of magnitude higher performance as compared to the current competition and provide significantly lower operational costs.
