It’s a big promise, a bet on a better future. Goods and heavy loads will soon be transported through the air instead of in big city traffic – at least that’s how Volocopter GmbH, founded in 2011, imagines it. The company, based in Bruchsal, also relies on the tradition-steeped location of Oberschleißheim, where aviation began in Bavaria at the beginning of the 20th century. The company has rented the historic Junkershallen on the old airfield and is already testing its “Volo-Drone” there.
The two Junkershallen built in 1934 are privately owned, privately owned industrial buildings that have been under monument protection for a long time and have hardly been used. They are to be renovated, and a new hall is planned next to them. This is what the Munich architects Brechensbauer Weinhart and Partners, who were entrusted with the project, say. The goal is to store aircraft there. The Ikarus Flying Club with its small propeller planes and gliders is the neighbor of Germany’s oldest airfield still in operation. A little further west is the Flugwerft with the branch of the Deutsches Museum. A little further to the east are the hangars for the federal police helicopters.
The historic hangars in Oberschleißheim were built in 1934.
(Photo: Florian Peljak/)
Today, airplanes are stored in the halls.
(Photo: Florian Peljak/)
And recently the start-up Volocopter has also rented a place here. The company is a pioneer in the air taxi industry, in which many small companies such as Lilium, based in Wessling, are active. But the big players like Boeing, Airbus and MTU have also been involved for a long time. According to its own description, the start-up from Bruchsal is working on an “Electric Aircraft Family”, which, in addition to the Volo-Drone, also includes the Volo-City and Volo-Region aircraft as well as an extensive “Urban Air Mobility Ecosystem”. The first commercial flights are announced for next year. In 2024, passengers at the Olympic Games in Paris are to be brought comfortably, electrically and allegedly quietly from A to B.
But what can be expected for Oberschleißheim? A company spokesman confirmed to SZ on Tuesday that Volocopter is “testing heavy aircraft in Munich”. In addition, you have “other research and development work in this area”. The company spokesman declined further information, pointing out that these were experimental and confidential.
“First do it and then ask, that’s not possible at this point”
The fact that a start-up is working in the old halls in Oberschleißheim was only recently noticed by the municipality itself, rather casually. A description of the business that was then requested was a topic on Monday evening in the building committee of the municipal council, where some were annoyed by the unannounced activities. Fritz-Gerrit Kropp (Greens) expressed massive irritation at being presented with a fait accompli. During the consultation a year ago, “there was no talk of business, we asked several times”. It is once again a “typical number” in which the community is being fooled.
The Greens expressed concerns about flight operations in an FFH area five days a week, the extent of which is not foreseeable. Kropp referred to noise protection reports that a municipality had requested from Volocopter for a similar project. It should first be checked what loads are to be expected, also with regard to parking spaces and traffic.
The debate revealed that around 15 Volocopter employees are currently working in Oberschleißheim. Ingrid Lindbüchl (Greens) looked at her colleagues and asked: “Is nobody upset here?” She considers it a one-time event that an administration intends to accept such an uncoordinated approach by a company.
Mayor Markus Böck (CSU), on the other hand, spoke of an “incredibly outstanding opportunity” for the community. The future could find its home on the historic airfield. In addition to Böck, Peter Benthues (CSU) also campaigned for approval. It’s about an FFH area, but also about an airfield. Stefan Vohburger (free voters) spoke of a chance for Oberschleißheim and expressed understanding for the owners of the halls. “Protecting monuments costs money.”
With a view to the federal police helicopters, the town hall administration gave the all-clear. Florian Spirkl (SPD) asked where could drone flights be tested better than at an airfield. And yet he voted against it. Because: “First do it and then ask, that’s not possible at this point.” The operation of Volocopter was approved with eight yes votes to five no votes.