VoltAero and Ingegneria Dei Sistemi (IDS) are to jointly pursue technology development for more-electric aircraft in the areas of hybrid powertrains and electromagnetic engineering for avionics applications, with support from Siemens PLM Software.

This industrial cooperation reflects the growing importance of new electrical power and digital technologies as the air transport industry responds to the multiple challenges of environmental sustainability, energy savings and reduction of noise and pollution.

One of the cooperation's goals is to provide technical expertise for VoltAero's development of its Cassio hybrid-electric aircraft, which currently is under development and initial configuration flight testing from the start-up company's headquarters at France's Royan-Medis Airport.

IDS, based in Pisa, Italy, will bring its extensive certification know-how in the EMI/EMC (electromagnetic engineering/electromagnetic interference) environment, smart avionics application software, as well as virtual and physical testing on product development and certification with Siemens PLM Software.

Looking to the longer-term, IDS and VoltAero foresee further cooperation opportunities on digital and hybrid-power applications in a range of other industries, including the automotive sector – where IDS and Siemens have already begun to develop new innovative solutions.

"The IDS experience in worldwide research and development initiatives spans 30 years, providing valuable contributions to VoltAero's vision of the future for electrical energy power and digital aircraft," said Jean Botti, VoltAero's CEO and Corporate Technical Officer. "We look forward to benefitting from the company's leadership – particularly in matters of electromagnetic science."