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Zurich, May 2026: Dufour Aerospace and Volatus Aerospace have taken another important step toward scalable BVLOS drone operations through the integration and initial testing of operations control centre capabilities in Canada.
During recent activities at the Volatus Aerospace test facility, Dufour Aerospace integrated its platform into the Volatus Operations Control Centre (OCC) to support remote flight operations. This marked the deployment of the first instance of Dufour’s web based operational application and remote operator procedures outside the company’s own organisation. Included in the update was a standalone simulation environment to support procedural training and operational preparation, a key tool for training new operators, establishing new operations, and simulating operational scenarios. As a final part of these activities the Volatus team successfully conducted the first remotely operated flight from the Volatus control centre using the Aero-30 platform.
The milestone marks the first time Dufour Aerospace’s remote operational system has been used by an external operator, providing valuable operational feedback from a team with extensive experience in aerial operations. It also represents an important step toward future North American operations for Dufour Aerospace, working alongside Volatus Aerospace to support the development of long-range logistics capabilities in a region where vast distances, remote infrastructure, and sparse population density create strong demand for advanced aerial operations.
A key focus for Dufour Aerospace has been the continued development of remote capabilities to support scalable BVLOS drone operations.
Instead of positioning the operator directly next to the aircraft, missions can be supervised remotely from a dedicated control environment where flight parameters, aircraft systems, mission status, and operational conditions are continuously monitored in real time.
This changes how operations can be organised. Rather than deploying full operational teams to each aircraft location, local activity can be reduced to launch and recovery support while the mission itself is managed remotely. Following the successful deployment at Volatus Aerospace, only a single ground crew member is required on-site during operations.
From an operational perspective, this enables:
These capabilities are closely linked to future BVLOS drone operations, where reliable communication links, continuous situational awareness, and structured operational procedures are essential for safe and scalable deployment.
The successful flight from the OCC demonstrated key parts of this operational concept in a real environment, including remote operator workflows, communication infrastructure, and operational procedures.
These latest activities build directly on the broader collaboration between Dufour Aerospace and Volatus Aerospace, which focuses on the practical deployment of hybrid eVTOL logistics operations in real operational environments.
Earlier stages of the partnership included the installation of a dedicated simulator at the Volatus Aerospace facility in Toronto to support pilot training, mission rehearsal, and operational concept development. The collaboration has also focused on how runway-independent logistics operations can support demanding environments where infrastructure is sparse, distances are large, and operational flexibility is critical.
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The recent deployment of the OCC capabilities represents the next operational step in this collaboration. While the simulator supports training and procedural preparation, the successful remotely operated flight in Canada allowed these concepts to be applied during live test flights in a real operational environment.
Working directly with an experienced operator provides important insight into how aircraft systems, operator procedures, mission planning, and regulatory requirements interact in practice. This operational feedback helps ensure that platform development remains aligned with how these systems will ultimately be deployed and operated.
The collaboration is particularly relevant in regions such as Canada, where long distances, remote infrastructure, and limited access to traditional aviation support create clear demand for scalable BVLOS drone operations and runway-independent logistics capabilities.
“Deploying our remote operational system outside our own organisation is an important milestone,” said Sascha Hardegger, CEO of Dufour Aerospace. “Working together with an experienced operator like Volatus Aerospace provides valuable operational feedback while helping validate how these systems can be integrated into real logistics operations.”
The successful testing activities in Canada demonstrate how remote flight testing, operator training, and the Operations Control Centre infrastructure are beginning to support scalable BVLOS drone operations in real deployment environments.
Dufour Aerospace is pioneering drones for critical missions. Based in Switzerland, Dufour Aerospace develops and manufactures efficient and sustainable aircraft for cargo transportation, logistics, and public safety. The Aero-200 drone features distributed electric propulsion and a hybrid module to meet today’s Advanced Air Mobility and medium-sized drone market requirements.
Contact: media@dufour.aero
More info: www.dufour.aero
Volatus Aerospace is a global provider of integrated aerial solutions for commercial and defence applications, leveraging both piloted and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS). The Company serves industries including oil and gas, utilities, healthcare, and public safety. Volatus’ mission is to enhance operational efficiency, safety, and resilience through real-world, scalable aerial technologies.
Contact: info@volatusaerospace.com
More info: https://volatusaerospace.com/
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ABOUT DUFOUR AEROSPACE:
Dufour Aerospace is pioneering drones for critical missions. Based in Switzerland, Dufour develops and manufactures efficient and sustainable aircraft for cargo transportation, logistics, and public safety. The Aero-200 drone features distributed electric propulsion and a hybrid module to meet today’s Advanced Air Mobility and medium-sized drone market requirements.
