AutoFlight, Groupe ADP to conduct experimental piloted eVTOL flights

Advanced air mobility (AAM) solutions company AutoFlight (Augsburg, France) and international airport operator Groupe ADP (Tremblay-en-France, France) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to conduct experimental flights with the electric takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, Prosperity I, from the vertiport in Pontoise during the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games.

As these events are set to serve as a global stage for innovation and progress, AutoFlight intends to showcase the capabilities of its record-holding 250-kilometer-range lift and cruise eVTOL — recently revealed at this year’s Paris Air Show — while Groupe ADP reinforces its commitment to fostering innovative air mobility. Sealed by Tian Yu, CEO of AutoFlight, and Edward Arkwright, deputy CEO of Groupe ADP, this collaboration aims to highlight AutoFlight’s potential in scaling up sustainable urban logistics and
passenger transportation under real-world conditions.

Under the MoU, AutoFlight will conduct experimental piloted flights from the Pontoise vertiport, which offers a comprehensive infrastructure encompassing dedicated takeoff and landing areas, a state-of-the-art passenger terminal, a fully equipped maintenance hangar and advanced control areas. Groupe ADP reports that it is spearheading the development of eVTOL infrastructure in the Paris Region with five additional vertiports in the making — Paris heliport in Issy-les-Moulineaux, Paris Austerlitz, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Paris Le Bourget and Saint-Cyr l’Ecole.

In addition to its flight range, AutoFlight’s Prosperity I fixed-wing aircraft boasts energy consumption levels comparable to that of an electric car, representing a high level of efficiency. The eVTOL aircraft is said to enable significant reductions in trip length while maximizing asset use in urban environments. While materials were not mentioned at its reveal, the premier of AutoFlight’s V400 Albatross eVTOL in 2020 shows promise for the use of composites.

“Through conducting experimental piloted flights from the Pontoise vertiport, we aim to showcase the immense potential of AAM,” Mark Henning, managing director of AutoFlight Europe, says. “Our 250-kilometer-range eVTOLs will operate in real-world conditions, highlighting their capabilities in urban environments and their invaluable contribution to sustainable logistics and mobility. The 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games will be a global celebration and we would take pride in AutoFlight’s technology being part of it. We are grateful to Groupe ADP for their collaboration.”

Groupe ADP’s Edward Arkwright expresses his own enthusiasm about the collaboration, noting that “this collaboration resonates with our commitment to delivering sustainable and efficient aircraft infrastructure as we continue to pave the way for the future of aviation.” Specifically the MOU is part of a broader framework of air mobility experiments that Groupe ADP has gathered since 2020 in a unique ecosystem.