[Hardware]Emmanuel Macron est le «bienvenu» pour tester les taxis volants pendant les JO, dit le patron d'ADP

[GreenBoys]

The CEO of Paris Airports, Augustin de Romanet, has extended an invitation to the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, to test flying taxis and become "the first European to fly, in real conditions" during the Paris Olympic Games. In an interview, he clarified that "we are still fighting to have a certification for flying taxis". 
President Emmanuel Macron "would be welcome" to come and test flying taxis during the Paris Olympics, launched Saturday the boss of Paris Airports (ADP) Augustin de Romanet in an interview with Ouest-France, 20 days before the start of the Olympic festival. "If he wanted to be the first European to fly on this type of vehicle, in real conditions, at the time of the Olympics, he would be welcome," said Augustin de Romanet, addressing President Macron.

"For the Olympic and Paralympic Games, we are always fighting to have a certification"
The boss of the Parisian airports (Charles-de-Gaulle and Orly) took advantage of an interview with the Western regional daily "to launch an invitation to the President of the Republic" and take stock of the experimentation of electric flying taxis during the Olympics (July 26-August 11). For this project, ADP has partnered with the Ile-de-France region, which has mobilized 1.5 million euros, and with the German start-up Volocopter, which manufactures the "Volocity", supposed to embody the greening ambitions of the polluting aviation industry. This two-seater aircraft, including that of the pilot, is equipped with batteries powering 18 rotors arranged in a ring above the cockpit.

But while the project promoters aimed to transport paying customers during the Olympics, the lack of certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency, now expected in the fall, forces them to consider demonstration flights with free passengers, which also requires authorization. "It's a speed race. We are missing a few hours of engine experimentation to obtain the approval of the European certification body, in order to transport paying passengers," said Augustin de Romanet. He says today he hopes "to have it on December 8, 2024 for the reopening of Notre-Dame since our 'vertiport' (runway for vertical take-off and landing) is moored near the cathedral", on the Seine.

"For the Olympic and Paralympic Games, we are still fighting to have a certification for flying taxis, piloted by professionals, but without paying passengers," added Mr. de Romanet. While many municipal elected officials in Paris, from the majority or the opposition, have expressed their hostility to these devices, judging them in particular as elitist, ADP and its partners extol the interest of Volocity - in larger versions - for emergency medical transport (patients or grafts).

https://www.europe1.fr/technologies/emmanuel-macron-est-le-bienvenu-pour-tester-les-taxis-volants-pendant-les-jo-dit-le-patron-dadp-4256945