Germany-based Volocopter has applied to regulators in Japan for type certification of its VoloCity eVTOL aircraft by 2025.
The Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) accepted Volocopter’s application for a concurrent type certification with the European Union Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) for the VoloCity. This will enable the fully-electric eVTOL aircraft to fly commercially in Japan when it is certified by EASA.
Volocopter said it is on target to achieve certification for the VoloCity from EASA next year.
The company is pursuing concurrent validation with three non-European civil aviation authorities: JCAB in Japan, the FAA in the USA , and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) in Singapore.
Japanese company Sumitomo has invested in the company’s latest Funding round and will become a partner for the Volocity’s entry into service in the Japanese market from 2025.
Volocopter is planning to fly the VoloCity air taxi at the 2025 EXPO Osaka Kansai.
Christian Bauer, chief commercial officer of Volocopter said, “Over the past few years, Volocopter has made significant progress toward becoming an integral part of the team that will bring urban air mobility to life in Japan in 2025, thanks to partners like Sumitomo, EASA, and JCAB who share our vision.
“I cannot wait to see the public reaction to the VoloCity air taxi being unveiled in Osaka for the first time.”
Volocopter is to display a full-scale VoloCity static model for the first time at the Grand Front Osaka, Japan from 8 to 12 March to raise awareness of the aircraft in the country.
Patrick Ky, executive director of EASA said, “This is an important milestone in the development of relations between Japan and Europe in the field of new aviation technologies.
“We are proud to be partnering with Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and share with JCAB its experience with its SC-VTOL regulations in the certification process of VoloCity.”