Bristow Group, a leading vertical flight solutions provider, has teamed up with German urban air mobility (UAM) startup Volocopter to collaborate on the development of commercial passenger and cargo services using electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in the United States and the United Kingdom. This partnership will encompass the establishment of a UAM ecosystem, including commercial and operational services, as well as eVTOL aircraft maintenance. As part of this initiative, Bristow has placed an initial order for two Volocopter VoloCity eVTOLs, with an option to acquire an additional 78 aircraft.
Dave Stepanek, Executive Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer at Bristow, expressed excitement about this collaboration, highlighting its significance in advancing vertical transportation solutions. He praised Volocopter's pragmatic certification approach and its elegant aircraft design, positioning the company at the forefront of the eVTOL market.
Volocopter has conducted over 1,500 test flights with its VoloCity aircraft and anticipates receiving EASA certification in 2024, followed by FAA certification shortly thereafter. Bristow's partnership with Volocopter aligns with its ongoing efforts to work with eVTOL developers, including BETA Technologies, Lilium, and Overair, to shape the future of vertical flight solutions.
