ZeroAvia has been invited to join the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s extended and expanded H₂ Challenge program.

Working with the CAA, ZeroAvia will explore the necessary safety and regulatory requirements for commercial adoption of H₂ as it looks towards the certification of its ZA600 H₂-electric powertrain for up to 20 seat aircraft. This work with the regulator includes exploring safe H₂ fuel storage, distribution and refueling practices at airfields and on aircraft. It complements ZeroAvia’s efforts to certify its first full H₂-electric engine – the ZA600 designed for up to 20 seat planes – with the CAA. 

ZeroAvia’s participation in the first round of the Sandbox Challenge included investigating the development, design & testing of the ZA600, and furthering the operational understanding and safety requirements of H₂ in aviation. 

The next stage of the H₂ Challenge will see the development of new designs of cutting-edge aircraft that use H₂ fuel cell power systems and remotely piloted systems to drive down carbon emissions. It will also examine changes to airport infrastructure, include new scientific research by some of Britain’s leading aeronautical institutes, and support flight trials, safety assessments and demos.

Paul Harper, Director of Airworthiness and Certification, ZeroAvia said, “Our experiences in the first round of the H₂ Challenge have been extremely positive. We are working diligently towards the certification of our first full H₂-electric powertrain the ZA600 with the CAA, and this program will help us prepare the wider ecosystem for flying zero-emission using H₂.”

Tim Johnson, Director of Communications, Strategy and Policy, UK Civil Aviation Authority, said, “These trials keep the UK on course to be a world leader in H₂ propulsion. We are working with some of the most innovative companies and minds to better understand this technology and how it might be introduced safely in the aerospace sector. In doing so, it offers the potential to enable a more sustainable aerospace system and support UK economic growth.”

The news of ZeroAvia’s inclusion in the CAA program coincides with another regulatory development, with the company receiving a G-1 issue paper for its 600-kW electric propulsion system from the FAA in the U.S.  

ZeroAvia has already extensively tested a prototype of the ZA600 H₂-electric engine aboard a Dornier 228 aircraft at its UK base. The company has an engineering partnership with Textron Aviation as it looks to secure a supplemental type certificate for the Cessna Grand Caravan as the launch airframe for the ZA600.   

ZeroAvia has also performed advanced ground tests in the US and UK for the key building block technologies for the ZA2000 system, including cryogenic tanks or LH₂ and proprietary high-temperature PEM fuel cell and electric propulsion systems. The ZA2000 will support up to 80-seat regional turboprop aircraft such as the ATR 72 and the Dash 8-400.