Friedrichshafen, Germany: Making a difference - VoltAero By Alison Chambers, Emerald Media.

VoltAero CEO, Jean Botti, honours his pledge to enhance cabin design for disabled pilots.

AERO Friedrichshafen 2024 last week was a celebration of innovation, entrepreneurship, accessible and sustainable aviation.

The show, marking its 30th anniversary, attracted over 31,000 visitors, 680 exhibitors and no less than 250 aircraft. Its appeal is its inclusivity. It is informal, yet the organisation of the show is tight and exemplary, considering how many people come through the doors - entry strictly ticket only. Babies and toddlers in pushchairs, dogs on leads, are all welcome. There is even a creche.

Its acceptance of casual attire is especially appealing when there are 12 large halls to walk around. This year, joining state of the art gliders, drones and all manner of GA aircraft, were an array of alternative powered aircraft designs. Innovation at the fore. Outside, the large cabin Bombardier Global 5500 and Gulfstream G500 joined Textron, Pilatus and Embraer’s light jet families. Indoors HondaJet, Tecnam, Cirrus and others hosted impressive stands featuring their latest aircraft families.

AERO's MESSE venue is super friendly for wheelchair users being all on one level with lifts to the conference areas.

Back to ACE Expo 2021

The background to the images here occurred back in September 2021 when Gearup TV’s Liz Moscrop interviewed VoltAero CEO Jean Botti at ACE Expo Biggin Hill. She asked him how he intended to cater for wheelchair using passengers in his new Cassio 330 electric-hybrid design.

watch the video

This interview followed fresh from an introduction to the charming and remarkably influential Mike Miller-Smith, CEO of Aerobility, the UK's leading disabled flying charity, headquartered at Blackbushe Airport. Aerobility marked its 30th year in 2022.

Using AERO Aerofriedrichshafen as a natural gathering point for disabled aviators from the UK, Germany, France, Spain and Norway, was very effective. Being able to come together through aviation and share experiences was extremely valuable, highlighted Mike.

During AERO Mike arranged a dinner for 24 light aviation pilots with disabilities who were visiting the show representing their European flying schools. Briefed on how VoltAero had listened and enhanced the accessibility of its cabin design they were delighted to stop by and visit the aircraft and meet with Jean and the Cassio hybrid test pilots last week.

"Meeting Jean from VoltAero in 2021 was a memorable and refreshing conversation, where a sustainable flight aircraft manufacturer quickly understood the challenges of transporting disabled people and medical equipment and readily accepted the challenge to modify the baseline design of their aircraft platform. To see the revised door and cabin configuration at AERO Friedrichshafen, showcasing the improved accessibility, was very encouraging." Mike Miller-Smith, CEO, Aerobility.

Of course VoltAero had exciting news to share in Germany. Its VoltAero’s Cassio S H/E demonstrator, flew from France to demonstrate its Safran and Kawasaki powertrain (also fuelled by biodiesel fuel from vineyard waste in another sustainability nod) to put on a display at the show. To date he aircraft has logged over 200 demo flights. Next stop Geneva for EBACE. Bravo for this.

However, we applaud Jean Botti for recognising the needs of its future passengers - including the vital wheelchair using community.

Invitation to Equal Skies Charter - London, April 30, 2024

BlueSky News readers are invited to the Inaugural Equal Skies Charter conference on April 30 in London.

Boarding Now: Destination Equal Skies promises to be a pioneering event where leaders from across the aviation and aerospace industry meet to discuss how to utilise disabled talent in their workforce. Hosted at Shoosmiths London, the conference boasts workshops on inclusive recruitment, a variety of speakers and a safe space to openly discuss the challenges currently facing the industry in disability employment.

Further details and registration here

BlueSky Business Aviation News | 18th April 2024 | Issue #744