Aviation H2, the firm responsible for Australia’s first hydrogen-powered plane, has announced a strategic relationship with FalconAir, a leading aircraft charter operator.
With momentum on its side, the company has also announced the commencement of a capital raise via the online platform VCEX to fund the acquisition of test engines and the construction of its first modification prototype.
Terms of the agreement:
- Aviation H2 will have access to the FalconAir Bankstown hangar, facilities, and operating permits in order to commence construction of Australia’s first hydrogen-powered aircraft.
- FalconAir will assist Aviation H2 in acquiring the test engines and aircraft necessary to complete the project.
- Engineering, piloting, and hangarage services for specialised and licensed aircraft.
- Utilize their demonstrated knowledge to assist in liaising with aviation authorities and expediting the certification process.
After just finishing their feasibility assessment, Aviation H2 believes they are on pace to have a hydrogen-fueled jet in the sky by the middle of 2023.
“This marks a monumental step towards developing a technology that will lead to the decarbonisation of the aviation industry, which contributes 2.5 per cent to global emissions,” says Aviation H2 Director Dr Helmut Mayer. “We now have a hangar, options for purchasing an aeroplane and a clear plan for how we want to build the plane.”
“In the next 12 months, we intend to convert a jet engine for testing, then modify a Falcon 50 so it runs on green hydrogen. FalconAir has extensive experience in dealing with these aircraft and a global network of relationships, which will prove instrumental in purchasing both the aircraft and the test engine. Their team will also be able to provide assistance in maintenance engineering and guide us on accelerating the approval process from aviation authorities.”
Sydney-based FalconAir is a world leader in specialised charter flights and corporate jet management, with operations throughout Australia and the Asia Pacific area. Corporate jet charter and aeromedical services, such as patient and organ transfers and medical evacuations, are offered by the company.
After the successful test flight in mid-2023, Aviation H2 will have a patent-pending technology for retrofitting airplanes to run on carbon-free fuel. They intend to accelerate the certification and commercialization of this product through a scheduled public listing on a major exchange in Q4 2023.
