ZeroAvia has announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Loganair. The company is advancing certification of a 600 kilowatt (kW) hydrogen electric powertrain for aircraft with 10 to 20 seats, in collaboration with the United Kingdom’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Hydrogen-electric engines
Using the Cessna Caravan as the launch airframe, the company plans to obtain additional supplemental type certificates (STCs). The STC is for other aircraft in the Cessna Caravan category, including the popular Twin Otter airframe operated by Loganair for serving communities in the Scottish Highlands and Islands.
To power electric motors that turn propellers, hydrogen-electric engines use hydrogen in fuel cells to generate electricity. The only byproduct of this process is water. According to ZeroAvia, with the regional turboprop aircraft operating at low typical contrail formation, the in-flight emissions impact is effectively zero, especially since the novel engines promise cost reductions for airlines. ZeroAvia anticipates lower maintenance requirements compared to conventional jet engines due to the simpler mechanics of fuel cell systems, though this remains to be validated in large-scale operations. The company projects that, over time, hydrogen fuel will become significantly more cost-effective than kerosene.
Partnership in Scotland
This partnership complements some of ZeroAvia’s growing ties in Scotland. The company has been in a longstanding partnership to explore airport hydrogen fuel infrastructure with Glasgow Airport and recently announced plans alongside the first minister of Scotland to establish its hydrogen fuel cell manufacturing centre close to the airport and Loganair’s headquarters.
Val Miftakhov, the founder and CEO of ZeroAvia, stated his impression of Luke Farajallah, the CEO at Loganair, and his team’s dedication and passion for delivering connectivity among their customers. He said Loganair’s route network lends itself very well to the adoption of both ZeroAvia’s ZA600 and its ZA2000 engine technology post certification. He hopes that this will be the start of a long-lasting customer relationship for ZeroAvia and a cleaner transport for passengers in Scotland and the United Kingdom (UK).
In addition to this, Luke added that ZeroAvia’s commitment to bringing its hydrogen fuel cell manufacturing centre to Glasgow has made this agreement entirely possible and logical for Loganair. According to Luke, the future of sustainable flight will likely rely on companies like ZeroAvia and Loganair to be the pioneer of new technology. He added that he looks forward to working together with ZeroAvia to provide a greener future. Also stated that he truly believes that Loganair’s fleet and network are the perfect airline/geography combination when considering ZeroAvia’s product suite.
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