Global Sky is exhibiting the Cassio electric-hybrid aircraft family at the Bali Air Show, now on at Denpasar International Airport.
Global Sky’s exhibit highlights the electric-hybrid aircraft family’s capabilities, which align nicely with the Indonesian and Southeast Asian markets. These include the operational safety of its dual-source electric-hybrid propulsion system, the ability to operate from shorter runways at local airports, reduced noise levels during takeoff and landing, and low operating costs with single-pilot operation.
French aircraft builder VoltAero will produce Cassio in three versions: the five-seat Cassio 330, the Cassio 480 with six seats, and the 10-12-seat Cassio 600. Typical flight range examples for the Cassio 330, which is the first configuration to enter production, include routes such as Jakarta to Bali, Jakarta to Singapore, Singapore to Phuket, and Manila to Kaohsiung.
As VoltAero’s launch customer in Southeast Asia, Global Sky signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to pre-order 15 Cassio aircraft. The two companies will collaborate on defining routes and operations for these electric-hybrid aircraft to determine airport compatibility, define the recharging infrastructure, and develop a regional Cassio distribution network.
The Cassio product line is in advanced development as a highly capable and reliable product line for regional commercial operators, air taxi/charter companies, private and business owners/operators, as well as in utility-category service for cargo, postal delivery and medical evacuation applications.
“Cassio is perfectly matched with Southeast Asia’s rapidly maturing regional aviation infrastructure while also meeting the region’s focus on incorporating new technologies to evolve its business and economic goals,” said Global Sky CEO Christian Duhain. “We joined forces with VoltAero because I have been impressed by the company’s realistic and attainable development goals for Cassio, bringing together personalities who helped launched the era of e-aircraft.”
VoltAero says its propulsion concept is unique. The Cassio aircraft will utilise the Safran ENGINeUS electric motor in its aft fuselage-mounted hybrid propulsion unit for all-electric power during taxi, takeoff, primary flight (if the distance travelled is less than 150 kilometres), and landing. The hybrid feature, with the internal combustion engine, comes into play as a range extender, recharging the batteries while in flight.
Additionally, this hybrid element serves as a backup in the event of a problem with the electric propulsion, ensuring failsafe functionality. By integrating VoltAero’s patented electric-hybrid propulsion system into the company’s purpose-designed airframe, the Cassio aircraft will deliver an order of magnitude higher performance compared to the current competition and provide significantly lower operational costs.
“Among the aircraft’s designed-in advantages are the patented dual-source electric/hybrid propulsion system for safety in over-water flights, a low-noise footprint for operations to ecologically-sensitive airports and after-hours services to deliver freight/cargo, the large cabin and highly accessible loading/unloading for medical airlift flights, and the single-pilot certification for business and private owners/operators,” said VoltAero’s CEO and Chief Technology Officer Jean Botti.
