Voltaero inaugurates a new production site in Charente-Maritime

On 8 November, French aircraft manufacturer Voltaero inaugurated its new industrial site at Saint Agnant, near Rochefort, in Charente-Maritime, in the presence of Jean Botti, CEO and director of technology, Alain Rousset, president of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region and Gérard Pons, president of the Syndicat Mixte des Aéroports de La Rochelle – Ile de Ré et Rochefort – Charente-Maritime.
The Cassio family of hybrid electric aircraft will now be produced by Voltaero on this new site, close to Rochefort airport. Covering an area of 2,400 square metres, the building belonging to the start-up created in 2008 houses the aircraft’s final assembly line and the company’s new head office. It is now the main production and delivery centre for the Cassio family of aircraft, supported by VoltAero’s design, engineering, flight test and administration departments. The site is strategically located in south-west France, where the aviation sector is already well established. It is designed to assemble 150 Cassio aircraft per year at full capacity, with support from additional production sites to be created in other key geographical markets.

The facility benefits from direct access to the Rochefort airport runway. Its master plan foresees potential for future growth, as well as the possibility for suppliers and service providers to develop their own presence on site while supporting Cassio’s production. “With the presence of VoltAero, we look forward to the future evolution of an industrial ecosystem for sustainable aviation at Rochefort airport and the surrounding area,” said Gérard Pons, president of the Syndicat Mixte des Aéroports de La Rochelle – Ile de Ré et Rochefort – Charente-Maritime, at the event.
The Cassio hybrid-electric aircraft will be used for regional transport in conjunction with runway activities, and have the capacity to carry between 6 and 12 passengers. Their production is expected to create 150 direct jobs and as many indirect jobs by 2026.