Three businesses have been chosen by the UK Civil Aviation Authority to improve industry and regulatory readiness for deploying new technologies and hydrogen fuel. The regulator has chosen ZeroAvia, Cranfield Aerospace Solutions, and Exeter Airport Consortium to participate in its Hydrogen Challenge.
With money from the Regulator’s Pioneer Fund, the UK Civil Aviation Authority announced the challenge in November 2023 to help harness hydrogen’s potential as an aviation fuel with zero carbon emissions.
“The Hydrogen Challenge is key to helping both the sector and UK Civil Aviation Authority to better understand emerging hydrogen technologies and the regulatory steps to progress towards entry into service.
Working closely with the three selected companies will enable us to take a step closer towards a net-zero aviation sector by supporting the industry to explore how feasible the introduction of hydrogen is and how we can make sure regulation develops with the technology and is fit for purpose.”
Tim Johnson, Director of Strategy and Policy at the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
Cranfield Aerospace Solutions, one of the chosen businesses, is working on a hydrogen fuel cell drivetrain that will be used in aeroplanes, and this year plan to do both ground and flight testing. The organisation and the UK Civil Aviation Authority will collaborate to assess the project’s risks, hazards, and safety concerns. Research by Regional & City Airports, TUI, ULEMCo, and Cranfield University will be focused on minimising the environmental impact of aircraft turnarounds at Exeter Airport. With the aid of the challenge, the Consortium will be able to analyse and comment on safety cases, test plans, and risk assessments from both the regulatory body and consortium members. This will ultimately help shape future guidelines and regulations.
“At Cranfield Aerospace Solutions we are delighted to be able to contribute to the Hydrogen Challenge initiated by the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
“We see this as a unique approach for addressing practical challenges in utilising hydrogen fuel within an aircraft environment, which hasn’t been attempted at this scale previously, neither domestically nor globally.
“Being able to collaborate on the basis of real-life test examples and data should hugely benefit the building of a new regulatory framework, which thus far has mostly been a theoretical exercise.”
Johannes Hien, Head of Design at Cranfield Aerospace Solutions.
In order to identify the risks, hazards, and safety challenges related to the retrofitting of a hydrogen-electric power train, ZeroAvia, which is also developing hydrogen-electric (fuel cell) engines for aviation and is currently operating a prototype system in a Dornier 228 testbed under a UK Civil Aviation Authority Permit to Fly, will collaborate with the regulator.
“With the ever-increasing optimism around hydrogen as the fuel of the future for aviation, it is critical that there is good knowledge sharing between the regulator and industry in this nascent area.
“Given we are already flight testing and working with the UK Civil Aviation Authority on certification of our first engine, now is the right time for the Hydrogen Challenge to swing into action.”
Paul Harper, Director of Airworthiness & Certification at ZeroAvia.
One instance of how the UK Civil Aviation Authority is collaborating with business to influence aviation’s future is the Hydrogen Challenge. Achieving the UK Government’s Jet Zero Strategy also requires the introduction of hydrogen propulsion.
“This collaborative project is an excellent example of how Cranfield University works closely with industry to enable real world progress towards sustainable aviation.
“Providing an independent coordinating role, connecting technology innovators with key players in industry, facilitating trials and providing an evidence base with academic integrity, it is exciting to contribute to developing solutions and provide pathways for the future.”
Professor Anna Smallwood, Head of Centre for Air Transport Management at Cranfield University.
“This award builds on the groundbreaking research we are doing with our partners to reduce the environmental impact of aircraft turnarounds at airports.
“Introducing hydrogen fuel to ground operations could be a gamechanger on the journey to net zero, and we’re delighted be part of this exciting and potentially hugely significant project for the global aviation industry.”
Andrew Bell, Chief Executive of Regional and City Airports, which owns and operates Exeter Airport.
“Our congratulations go to all the winners of the Hydrogen Challenge, and we wish them success in their exciting projects.
“Building on our experience converting vehicles such as aircraft tow trucks with safe hydrogen solutions, part of our role is to support customers and other users to accelerate the wider use cases for this clean fuel.”
Hydrogen as an aviation fuel is at an early stage of development, the sector does not yet have a comprehensive understanding of the risks to aviation safety and the right pathway to certification.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority will continue to address these issues through its Hydrogen Challenge, using a Regulatory Sandbox approach to make sure regulation is adapted and it fit for purpose for this new fuel.”
Amanda Lyne, Managing Director of ULEMCo, the hydrogen fuel provider.
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