VoltAero bags HM Aerospace order for 15 Cassio 330
Deal to transform Malaysian pilot training ecosystem
With the HM Aerospace agreement, VoltAero’s Cassio backlog has expanded to more than 280 orders, agreements and commitments with customers
VoltAero and HM Aerospace signed an agreement for 15 hybrid-electric Cassio 330s for pilot training in Malaysia, boosting green aviation and expanding VoltAero’s regional footprint at Paris Air Show.
With the HM Aerospace agreement, VoltAero’s Cassio backlog has expanded to more than 280 orders, agreements and commitments with customers
At the ongoing Paris Air Show, VoltAero, a French startup company, formalised an agreement with HM Aerospace for the latter to acquire 15 Cassio 330 electric-hybrid aircraft, with an option for an additional 15, destined for pilot training at Malaysia’s premier flight academy.
In a press statement, VoltAero says that the deal, subject to European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification and validation by Malaysia’s Civil Aviation Authorities, signals a major expansion of VoltAero’s orderbook and introduces electric-hybrid technology to the critical pilot training sector in the Asia-Pacific region.
According to the statement, the agreement, signed at Le Bourget Airport, was attended by Jean Botti, CEO, VoltAero and Chief Technology Officer and Tan Sri Halim Mohammad, Founding Director, Halim Mazmin Group.
Additionally, the milestone was witnessed by Alain Rousset, President of France’s Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, which has been a key supporter of VoltAero and is home to the Cassio industrial and final assembly facility at Rochefort Airport.
Jean Botti
The statement adds that the partnership aims to create a robust ecosystem supporting electric-hybrid aviation in Malaysia and across the Asia-Pacific, addressing the region’s high demand for professional pilots.
It says that with this agreement, VoltAero’s backlog for the Cassio series has surpassed 280 orders and commitments, reinforcing the aircraft’s appeal in regional air transportation, air mobility and business aviation.
“VoltAero looks forward to our long-term relationship with HM Aerospace and the Halim Mazmin Group as we join together in introducing, and supporting, a new era of aviation training with the Cassio 330,” says Botti.
“The Halim Mazmin Group of companies share a common vision with VoltAero of applying innovation and excellence while adapting to the fast-changing business environment today, and tomorrow. By bringing the Cassio 330 into the HM Aerospace aircraft fleet, we will be utilising airplanes that are advanced and highly eco-efficient to train the next generation of professional pilots,” says Halim Mohammad.
VoltAero says that HM Aerospace, established 20 years ago, has trained over 2,400 pilots now flying with leading airlines worldwide. The Cassio 330 is an ideal training platform, featuring a twin-engine electric-hybrid design and next-generation avionics with large tactile cockpit instrumentation.
The statement adds that its production version adopts a series-hybrid architecture, with “pusher” electric motors on each side of the aft fuselage and a thermal engine acting as a range extender to recharge onboard batteries. The aircraft operates in all-electric mode during taxi, takeoff, and initial climb, ensuring eco-efficient and quiet operations, while the thermal engine supports extended range during cruise.
