Volocopter secures EASA production approval, acquires DG Flugzeugbau’s manufacturing operations

Urban air mobility (UAM) pioneer Volocopter (Bruchsal, Germany) has secured Production Organisation Approval (POA) in compliance with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA Part 21G) and is acquiring its long-standing partner in innovation and production, DG Flugzeugbau (Karlsruhe, Germany), a global leader in composite aircraft production. Through this acquisition, Volocopter reports it is now the first and only electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) company holding both the required design and production organization approvals (DOA and POA) to advance its aircraft toward commercial launch.

UAM is an emerging part of the aviation industry focused on connectivity in and around cities. Volocopter has paved the way for creating the ecosystem necessary to introduce UAM to cities worldwide with its electric air taxi and cargo drone services. Volocopter obtained DOA from EASA (EASA Part 21J) in 2019. Through its compliance with both EASA Part 21G and Part 21 J, the company is poised to have the first commercial aircraft to market once the company completes type certification and obtains the air operator approval in compliance with EASA. Volocopter’s certification with EASA is said to be easily transferable across global markets, positioning it to launch services across Europe, Asia and North America.

DG Flugzeugbau reports that it is renowned worldwide for its excellence in the production and development of glider aircraft, composite aircraft manufacturing and the tuning of World-Championship-winning Red Bull Air-Race planes. The company has held production certification for more than 40 years, adhering to the highest safety and production standards according to EASA and the Federal Aviation Office of Germany. The company’s production facilities are located in Bruchsal near Volocopter’s headquarters. As part of this acquisition agreement, Volocopter will integrate DG Flugzeugbau’s aircraft production segment and EASA Part 21G POA. The entire team of highly specialized manufacturing experts will join Volocopter’s production and workshop teams.

Together with DG Flugzeugbau, Volocopter designed and built the VC200, said to be the first electrically powered multicopter to receive a permit to fly in 2016. Volocopter then flew this model autonomously in Dubai in 2017 and at the 2018 Consumer Eelectronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Since then, the two companies have partnered to produce the Volocopter 2X, the VoloDrone and the VoloCity.

Another part of the acquisition agreement is to continue to honor existing sailplane production contracts, under the new ownership. The remaining part of the former DG Flugzeugbau is being transitioned into the newly founded DG Aviation. With Maintenance Organization Part CAO and Design Organization Part-21J, the company will continue developing and maintaining aircraft and will give complete support for DG and LS gliders.

“Our ten-year partnership with DG Flugzeugbau has been an extraordinary learning experience,” says Volocopter CEO, Florian Reuter. “Having this legendary industry leader on our side to kick-start scalable and affordable UAM for people and cargo has been a game changer. Today marks an exciting milestone as we unify DG Flugzeugbau’s leadership in aviation production with Volocopter’s pioneering UAM goals to establish yet another crucial stepping-stone for our collective global endeavors.”

“At DG Flugzeugbau, we have always continued to strive for perfection through unique innovation with gliders, vast aerodynamic improvements, and, for the past ten years, with Volocopter’s eVTOLs,” says DG Aviation CEO, Holger Back. “We see the future in these aircraft and are excited to combine a section of our company with Volocopter to invest in the future of sustainable aviation while continuing our tradition of building gliders and maintaining aircraft.”