FutureFlight
Paris Seeks Partners to Launch Urban Air Mobility Services By 2024
The French capital is opening a "test area" to develop urban air mobility operations at Pontoise airfield and eVTOL developer Volocopter has signed up to support the program.
Paris UAM plan
Paris city officials have launched plans to develop urban air mobility services in the French capital by 2024. Pictured left to right here are: Florian Margain, president of Choose Paris Region, Edward Arkwright, ADP director general, Volocopter CEO Florian Reuter, Valerie Pecresse, president of the Ile-de-France region, and RATP president Catherine Guillouard. [Photo: Choose Paris Region]

Paris is positioning itself to be an early adopter of urban air mobility (UAM) services by inviting companies to propose plans for providing eVTOL aircraft, infrastructure, operational support, airspace integration, and support in securing public acceptance. From October 1 through November 13, companies and organizations will be able to submit expressions of interest via a special website established by the Choose Paris Region agency with airports group ADP and ground transportation network RATP.

As a first step, a UAM “test area” will be established at Pontoise airfield, 22 miles northwest of the city center to evaluate arrangements for starting air taxi services. It is hoped that services will launch in time for the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games.