ZeroAvia has achieved an important milestone with UK’s Civil Aviation Authority granting a flying permit to ZeroAvia’s Dornier 228 aircraft retrofitted with its prototype hydrogen-electric powertrain.
With this approval, ZeroAvia can now begin the first test flights of its 600kW, 19-seat twin-engine aircraft that has been retrofitted in an engineering testbed configuration to incorporate ZeroAvia’s hydrogen-electric engine powering the propellor on its left wing. The engine will operate operating a single Honeywell TPE-331 stock engine on the right for appropriate redundancy to allow the safe testing of the novel propulsion technology.
Val Miftakhov, ZeroAvia, Founder & CEO, said: “Earning our full Part 21 permit to fly with the CAA is a critical milestone as we develop a zero-emission aviation propulsion system that will be the most environmental and economical solution to the industry’s climate impact. We’re going to be starting 2023 in the best way possible, by demonstrating through flight that true zero-emission commercial flight is much closer than many think.”
Part 21 is an industry-standard term used to describe the regulatory approval of aircraft design and production organizations, and the certification of products, parts, and appliances for aircraft. Securing this permit to fly is a significant milestone in ZeroAvia’s path towards commercialization.
“It will pave the way for a commercially certifiable configuration for ZA600 to be submitted by the end of 2023, ahead of delivering powertrains for the first commercial routes for 9-19 seat aircraft to commence by 2025. With 1,500 engines under pre-order, partnerships with seven aircraft manufacturers and multiple fuel and airport partnerships, ZeroAvia is well positioned to lead the industry’s transformation to a clean future,” Miftakhoc added.
ZeroAvia claims that when test flights begin in January, the Dornier 228 testbed is expected to become the largest aircraft to ever fly using a hydrogen-electric powertrain.