Volocopter Integrates MRO Software into UAM Ecosystem

Swiss Aviation Software (Swiss-AS) and Volocopter cosigned a landmark multi-year contract for AMOS, Swiss-AS's maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) software. AMOS will be used to manage Volocopter’s electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft fleet worldwide. Seamless software integration will ensure continued fleet airworthiness, offer aircraft reliability monitoring and analysis, and act as an interface to Volocopter’s proprietary digital operating system, the VoloIQ. This is the first time Swiss-AS is collaborating in an urban air mobility (UAM) setting, a key development as Volocopter prepares for entry into service in 2024.

As the UAM industry pioneer, Volocopter is set to receive type certification (TC) in 2024 for its VoloCity, a 2-seater electric air taxi built for city use. The company will be the first to launch commercial services in Europe that meet the same safety standards commercial airliners must satisfy. Besides product certification, a successful industry launch and future operations scale-up require a solid UAM ecosystem. Plus, eVTOL fleets in global megacities will need to deliver fast turnaround times to maximize vertiport and airport space and provide efficient customer service.

AMOS manages vehicle configuration traceability throughout its life cycle, a critical aspect of proper aircraft fleet maintenance. Further such aspects include component design/purchase dates, installation/replacement dates, and total operating hours. AMOS will also monitor ground handling operations, deploy the relevant tools, and manage ground staff assignments. Ground technicians will use AMOSmobile/EXEC, a touch-optimized mobile maintenance solution for “live” data streams. Further, artificial intelligence (AI) will enable reliability monitoring to improve fleet management efficiency.

Meanwhile, Volocopter’s VoloIQ backbone will monitor customer-facing services like the booking process, as well as aircraft location and status, and battery health. Interlinking Volocopter’s air- and ground-side operations will create a fast, transparent, and safe fleet management system to support eVTOL operations scaling.

Oliver Reinhardt, Chief Risk & Certification Officer of Volocopter, said: “With Swiss-AS as a partner, Volocopter is making strides to ensure that the maintenance of our VoloCity is managed and executed efficiently and foolproof. The AMOS software has a proven track record in the aviation industry – giving us confidence to obtain our Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation (CAMO) and Maintenance Organisation Approval (MOA), which is essential for our entry into service. Its compatibility with our VoloIQ is a must-have to provide outstanding customer service.”

Seamless and efficient maintenance and ground-side operations ensure the safety of passengers, ground crew, and aircraft, simultaneously enabling the fast scaling of the UAM ecosystem. Volocopter is strengthening all areas of its ecosystem: product certification, production, air- and now maintenance and ground-side operations. This industry-first collaboration between Swiss-AS and Volocopter will build the foundation and deliver best practices that will permit ongoing improvements to future eVTOL operations.