Airbus Helicopters Building Test Centre for eVTOL Aircraft
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Airbus Helicopters has started construction of a test centre for CityAirbus NextGen, with company representatives, politicians, and business leaders attending the ground-breaking ceremony. The building is scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2023.
Occupying a surface area of 1,000 square meters, the new structure will be used for testing systems for electric takeoff and landing vehicles (eVTOLs). The ceremony was attended by Anna Christmann, the Federal Government Coordinator of German Aerospace Policy.
“We are investing in the future of electric flight because we believe this technology holds key potential for zero-emission flights,” said Wolfgang Schoder, Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters in Germany. “Urban Air Mobility will change the way we travel in cities and beyond and it will be a new pillar of business for Airbus. Donauwörth plays an important role in the development and construction of CityAirbus NextGen.”
The hangar integrates high-voltage equipment and lithium batteries and is designed to undergo testing with the highest safety precautions. All tests needed before CityAirbus NextGen’s maiden flight can be carried out there. These tests cover the electric motors with their eight rotors as well as the aircraft’s other systems such as flight controls and avionics.
In September 2021, Airbus unveiled its eVTOL prototype CityAirbus NextGen, to explore advanced air mobility technologies and bring urban air mobility services to life. With a range of 80 km and cruise speed of 120 km/h, it has been developed to be suited for a range of deployments in urban areas. As well as carrying passengers, the aircraft could also be deployed on medical missions or used in an eco-tourism context. Over the past few months, the company has selected partners for the main structural components of its prototype. Airbus is also working closely with industrial and institutional partners to lead the development of urban air mobility ecosystems, as recently announced with ITA Airways in Italy, or through the launch of the Air Mobility Initiative in Germany.
