German start-up unveils new emergency medical eVTOL aircraft

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German start-up unveils new emergency medical eVTOL aircraft

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Aviation International News | Aviation International News

By Sky Industry News

Jul 3, 2024

German start-up ERC-System has introduced plans for an emergency medical eVTOL aircraft named Charlie. The announcement took place during an event in Munich on July 3, attended by Bavaria’s health minister, Judith Gerlach.

The Charlie aircraft is designed to accommodate a pilot, a doctor, and a patient along with necessary medical equipment. It features a fixed wing and boom tail design, offering a payload capacity of 450 kilograms (990 pounds). With six rotors for vertical lift and two forward-facing propellers for cruising, the aircraft can travel up to 190 kilometers at speeds reaching 180 kilometers per hour.

DRF Luftrettung, one of Europe's largest air rescue services, is supporting the program through its eResCopter project. The Unterallgäu-Memmingen regional health service in Bavaria and the University Hospital Rechts der Iser are also involved in evaluating operational plans.

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ERC aims to have the Charlie model certified by 2029. The company plans to begin hover test flights with a technology demonstrator called Romeo by the end of 2024. A sub-scale version known as Echo has already undergone over 100 test flights.

ERC claims that Charlie will provide a cost-effective alternative to traditional ambulances and helicopters. Operating costs are projected at €8 ($8.60) per minute compared to €23 per minute for helicopters, excluding personnel and maintenance expenses.

Market studies conducted by ERC suggest demand for over 3,000 medical eVTOLs in Europe by 2035, with global demand potentially reaching 45,000 units when considering rescue operations. Production targets include manufacturing 250 units annually in Germany by 2032.

"As hospital density decreases and distances between medical facilities grow," said David Löbl, co-founder of ERC-System. "Traditional ambulances often fall short in speed, whereas helicopter flights incur high costs and significant noise."

ERC-System operates from Ottobrunn near Munich and has received seed funding from IABG. Founded in 2019 by David Löbl and Rudolf Schwarz, it currently employs around 80 people.

In related developments within the U.S., companies like Jaunt Air Mobility and Jump Aero are also exploring eVTOL solutions for emergency medical applications. Airbus views this sector as an early use case for its CityAirbus NextGen eVTOL being developed near Munich.