PR90534

MONTREAL and BRUCHSAL, Germany, July 8, 2021 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

- Groundbreaking training program to focus on safety and operationalization of

eVTOL urban air mobility

- Volocopter, urban air mobility pioneer, teams up with CAE, global leader in

aviation training, to develop an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL)

pilot training program in preparation for Volocopter's first eVTOL aircraft

upcoming entry-into-service

- CAE commits to expanding its international training network to support

Volocopter's growth and global pilot training with a forecasted investment of

up to US$40 million

CAE (NYSE: CAE) (TSX: CAE), a global leader in aviation training, and

Volocopter, the pioneer of urban air mobility (UAM), announced today the

signing of a strategic partnership, subject to definitive agreement, to

develop, certify, and deploy an innovative pilot training program for electric

vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) operations. A first in the industry, this

eVTOL pilot training program will develop the pilot workforce of the future and

ensure safe introduction of eVTOL operations globally by leveraging CAE's

advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality

(VR), mixed reality (MR), as well as data analytics and Volocopter's leading

understanding of requirements for integration into the UAM ecosystem.

UAM is an emerging part of the aviation industry focused on aerial connectivity

in and around cities. Volocopter's family of electric aircraft are designed to

relieve today's heavily fossil-fueled, inner-city traffic for both people

(VoloCity [https://www.volocopter.com/solutions/volocity/], VoloConnect

[https://www.volocopter.com/solutions/voloconnect/]) and goods (VoloDrone

[https://www.volocopter.com/solutions/volodrone/]). The company's first

commercial eVTOL aircraft, the VoloCity, is well into its certification program

with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and is positioned to

launch first services in time for the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Through existing

agreements and partnerships with global leaders, such as Daimler, Aéroports de

Paris, Microsoft Azure, and now CAE, Volocopter plans to launch its services in

a number of cities globally within the next five years. Volocopter is committed

to seeking certification with the highest global safety standards for aircraft

and operations.

CAE commits to expanding its worldwide training network with a forecasted

investment of up to US$40 million to meet Volocopter's projected pilot demand

in the early years of operation. CAE will be deploying training equipment and

instructors in lockstep with Volocopter's growth. As part of the agreement,

Volocopter will purchase a simulator from CAE to be used in its pilot training

program certification. CAE will create new, student-centric courseware,

specifically designed for the pilots of the future as Volocopter's courseware

provider and will also offer pilot trainees customized resources that enable

faster, more efficient pilot training.  

"As we scale our UAM services in cities around the world, specific pilot

training and qualification for our Volocopters will be an important element. We

are proud to be partnering with CAE, who have a track record in developing

best-in-class, innovative pilot training solutions for new aircraft programs.

It will greatly benefit Volocopter's entry-into-service timeline and scale,"

says Florian Reuter, CEO of Volocopter. "We are excited about CAE's endorsement

and look forward to collaborate as partners focused on combining

future-oriented technologies to ensure aviation safety."

"As a high-technology company and the industry leader in pilot training, we

continuously look at providing solutions that make the world a safer place,"

said Nick Leontidis, CAE's Group President, Civil Aviation Training Solutions.

"We are committed to supporting Volocopter's inspiring vision and we look

forward to leading in the design of UAM pilot training that prioritizes safety

of operations through our data-driven solutions, world-class pilot training

experience, and longstanding relationships with civil aviation authorities

across the globe."

As outlined in CAE's Advanced Air Mobility white paper

[https://www.cae.com/civil-aviation/evtol-air-mobility-pilot-training]

published this month, advanced air mobility will create an additional surge in

the demand for pilots, with an estimated 60,000 pilots needed within the first

decade of operation. Volocopter and CAE will work closely together to obtain

regulatory approval for their pilot training program of the future.  

About Volocopter

Volocopter is building the world's first sustainable and scalable urban air

mobility business to bring affordable air taxi services to megacities

worldwide. With the VoloCity, the company is developing the first fully

electric "eVTOL" aircraft in certification to transport passengers safely and

quietly within cities. Volocopter leads and cooperates with partners in

infrastructure, operations, and air traffic management to build the ecosystem

necessary to "Bring Urban Air Mobility to Life." The Volocopter has raised a

total of €322 million in equity from investors like Daimler, Geely, DB

Schenker, BlackRock, and Intel Capital amongst others. www.volocopter.com

About CAE

CAE is a high technology company, at the leading edge of digital immersion,

providing solutions to make the world a safer place. Backed by a record of more

than 70 years of industry firsts, we continue to reimagine the customer

experience and revolutionize training and operational support solutions in

civil aviation, defence and security, and healthcare. We are the partner of

choice to customers worldwide who operate in complex, high-stakes and largely

regulated environments, where successful outcomes are critical. As testament to

our customers' ongoing needs for our solutions, over 60 percent of CAE's

revenue is recurring in nature. We have the broadest global presence in our

industry, with approximately 10,000 employees, 160 sites, and training

locations in over 35 countries. www.cae.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1560040/Volocopter_VoloCity.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1361665/volocopter_Logo.jpg

Source: Volocopter GmbH and CAE