The American start-up is among the 3 companies selected by the British administration, along with Cranfield Aerospace Solutions and Exeter Airport.
It’s been a busy week for the pioneers of hydrogen-powered aircraft. Following Beyond Aero‘s announcement of its first flight in France and Universal Hydrogen‘s announcement of ground tests with a multi-MW liquid hydrogen powertrain, it’s ZeroAvia’s turn to reach a new milestone. This press release from the UK Civil Aviation Authority, which launched the Hydrogen Challenge* programme last November, states that a number of partners will be helping to prepare for the arrival of hydrogen.
Director of Airworthiness & Certification at ZeroAvia, Paul Harper said: “Given we are already flight testing and working with the CAA on certification of our first engine, now is the right time for the Hydrogen Challenge to swing into action.” The company has already flown a prototype system on a Dornier 228 testbed under a CAA Permit to Fly and has submitted its application to certify its first 600kW engine, ZA600. ZeroAvia will be working with the UK Civil Aviation Authority to identify the risks and safety measures associated with the adoption of a hydrogen-electric powertrain.
A Regulatory Sandbox
The collaboration will help the regulator to ensure that regulation is fit for its intended purpose and to meet the challenges associated with the introduction of hydrogen. The CAA will therefore set up what is known as a “Regulatory Sandbox”. This is a quite common procedure in the “fintech” sector, and it allows legislation to evolve without preventing start-ups from being innovative. The aim is to speed up the introduction of new technologies.
*With a budget of £940,000 (about $1,190,000) and overseen by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
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Article written by Laurent Meillaud and translated by Mariem Ben Tili
