Page 9 - AAA JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2022 Online Magazine

Hybrid-electric and all-electric commuter aircraft are ideal for develop a Dash 8-400 aircraft flight demon-
regional transport as such flights are often for flown for distances strator and with De Havilland Canada’s support,
less than 275 km. The new hybrid-electric propulsion technology complete certification and showcase the oper-
that will be used on the demonstrator aircraft could deliver fuel ational and commercial potential of the engine.
burn and CO2 emission reductions of 30 percent as compared to The intention is to identify a suitable existing
present generation fossil fuel powered turboprop aircraft. Hybrid- route utilising the aircraft and aim for entry into
electric aircraft could eventually reduce emissions by up to 70 service within the next five years. ZeroAvia and
percent, while upcoming all-electric aircraft will deliver zero emis- De Havilland Canada intend to jointly market
sions. Electrification of aircraft will also eliminate the complexities aircraft powered by the hydrogen-electric
engines to operators with power-by-the-hour
(PBH) support. The Dash 8-400 is one of the
world’s most reliable turboprop aircraft with
more than 625 delivered to customers and the
global fleet of Dash 8-400 aircraft has logged
over 11 million flight hours, transporting more
than 550 million passengers.

ZeroAvia is slated to fly a 19-seat aircraft using
its ZA600 powertrain early this year. The test
flight will be performed in a hybrid configuration
(one conventional engine, one hydrogen-elec-
tric). The same aircraft is also slated to make
a maiden flight using only hydrogen-electric
engines this year, with certification planned for
2024. ZeroAvia also aims to have full thrust
ground demonstrations of its 1.8MW ZA2000
engine variant by the end of 2022. The com-
and maintenance procedures associated with hydraulic, pneumatic, pany also has plans to certify the ZA2000
and gearbox-driven aircraft subsystems, driving down operational powertrain to support 40-80 seat aircraft with
and maintenance costs. a potential range in excess of 700 nautical
miles by 2026. This could then eventually be
In December 2021, ZeroAvia and De Havilland Aircraft of Canada extended into aircraft up to 90 seats by 2027.
Limited (De Havilland Canada) entered into a Memorandum of ZeroAvia is initially targeting hydrogen-elec-
Understanding (MOU) to develop a hydrogen-electric propulsion tric aviation solutions to meet the need for a
line-fit and retrofit programme for De Havilland Canada’s aircraft 10-20 and 40-80 seat aircraft with a 500-mile
models. Under the terms of the MoU, De Havilland Canada will be range. Based in the UK and USA, ZeroAvia has
issued options to purchase 50 ZeroAvia hydrogen-electric engines. already secured experimental certificates for
ZeroAvia is a leading innovator in zero-emission aviation powertrains two prototype aircraft from the CAA and FAA,
and its 2MW+ powertrain (ZA2000) will offered as a line-fit option passed significant flight test milestones, and is
for new aircraft, along with the development of an OEM-approved on track for initial commercial operations of its
retrofit program for in-service Dash 8-400 aircraft. ZeroAvia will technology in 2024.

ASIAN AIRLINES & AEROSPACE January/February 2022 | 9