Innovative aircraft interview: Jean Botti, CEO of VoltAero

In this second in our series of podcasts with company's testing innovative aircraft at Aerospace Testing International, we talk to Jean Botti, CEO of French aircraft-development company VoltAero. VoltAero is one of a handful of companies doing what many others just talk about - developing a hybrid-electric aircraft. The company plans for its Cassio aircraft, which has been flight tested in electric mode, to begin commercial operations in late 2022, just 2 years away. Available in 4,6 and 10-seat configuration, the general aviation aircraft will be suitable for use at smaller, regional airports for 'air taxi' type journeys of up to 600km (370 miles).Botti, who up until 2016 was chief technology officer at Airbus and was behind that company's E-Fan electric aircraft research project, has a strong vision of a more sustainable future for aviation. His Cassio aircraft has a clear parthway to certification, making this a company and development and testing program to keep an eye on.