ZeroAvia and De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited have signed an MOU to create a line-fit and refit program for De Havilland Canada’s aircraft types, employing hydrogen-electric power in both new and existing aircraft.
De Havilland Canada will be given options to acquire 50 ZeroAvia hydrogen-electric engines as part of the MOU. These possibilities will be confirmed after De Havilland Canada and ZeroAvia have signed a permanent agreement.
The firms plan to collaborate on a service bulletin for the Dash 8-400 type certificate that will include ZeroAvia’s hydrogen-electric engine as a line-fit option for new aircraft, as well as a refit program for existing aircraft that will be authorized by the OEM. The usage of ZeroAvia’s 2MW+ powertrain (ZA2000) for Dash 8-400 aircraft will be the focus of this program. With over 625 aircraft delivered to customers, the Dash 8-400 is one of the world’s most dependable turboprop aircraft. The Dash 8-400 fleet has recorded over 11 million flight hours and transported over 550 million passengers throughout the world.
ZeroAvia will create a flying demonstration utilizing a Dash 8-400 aircraft as part of the effort, with De Havilland Canada’s help, to facilitate certification and demonstrate the engine’s operational and commercial capabilities. The goal is to find a suitable current route to use the plane on and get it into operation within the next five years. ZeroAvia and De Havilland Canada want to jointly market hydrogen-electric engines-powered aircraft to operators that offer power-by-the-hour (PBH) assistance.
In October, ZeroAvia announced a development partnership with Alaska Air Group, the parent company of Alaska Airlines, to develop a hydrogen-electric powertrain capable of flying 76-seat regional aircraft across 500 nautical miles, with the first deployment in a full-size Dash 8-400 aircraft.
ZeroAvia plans to fly a 19-seat aircraft powered by its ZA600 powertrain in a hybrid configuration (one conventional engine and one hydrogen-electric engine) in the coming weeks, before flying the same aircraft powered entirely by hydrogen-electric engines in 2022 and completing certification by 2024. ZeroAvia plans to have full thrust ground demonstrations of its 1.8MW engine type by the end of 2022 as part of its ZA2000 program. By 2026, the firm expects to have certified its ZA2000 powertrain to support 40-80 seat aircraft with a potential range of over 700 nautical miles – roughly the distance between Toronto and Atlanta – and, by 2027, to support aircraft up to 90 seats.
ZeroAvia’s Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Val Miftakhov, said: “De Havilland Canada has made great progress in reducing emissions and shown a strong commitment to greener aviation, and the next step is to use hydrogen-electric engines to achieve complete zero-emissions. De Havilland Canada’s partnership provides ZeroAvia on a clear road to line-fitting into new airframes, signaling OEM interest in making the changeover to certified, zero-emission propulsion as soon as feasible.”
De Havilland Aircraft of Canada’s Chief Transformation Officer, Dave Riggs, said: “De Havilland Canada is a firm believer in hydrogen-electric technology as a feasible means of reducing aviation’s carbon footprint. We’re thrilled to be working with ZeroAvia to create climate-friendly propulsion as a viable alternative for our clients all around the world.”
