Evia Aero, a startup airline focused on providing zero-emissions sub-regional air services within Europe, and Cranfield Aerospace Solutions, a UK SME developing a hydrogen fuel cell conversion of the 9-seat Britten Norman Islander, have entered into a strategic partnership to bring hydrogen-powered fuel cell air services to Northern Europe.
Their collaboration, which will focus on both aircraft operations and hydrogen infrastructure for a North European zero-emissions sub-regional air service, is a crucial step toward enabling some of the world’s first zero-emissions airline operations.
“We are very happy to enter into a collaboration with Cranfield Aerospace Solutions. Sustainable aviation can only be implemented through exchange and teamwork. The outstanding developments of Cranfield and the commercial knowledge of markets in Europe of EVIA AERO are now combined.” Florian Kruse, Founder & CEO EVIA AERO.
“CAeS are delighted to have entered into this collaboration with Evia; sub-regional operations will be where zero-emissions flight will first enter service; this technology will help redefine regional connectivity and Evia’s planned route networks align perfectly with the hydrogen Islander aircraft and its expected performance. We’re very pleased to be working together with Florian and the team.” Paul Hutton, CEO Cranfield Aerospace Solutions.
CAeS is proposing a conversion for a nine-seat Britten Norman Islander aircraft that will convert its propulsion system from conventional fossil fuel to gaseous hydrogen via a fuel cell and an electric motor. The resultant Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) is anticipated to be certified for passenger travel by 2025.
CAeS is a global leader in the design and construction of new aircraft design concepts, complex modifications to existing aircraft, and the integration of cutting-edge technologies for some of the largest aerospace firms in the world.
CAeS is a well-established company with more than 90 employees, and is one of the very few aerospace SMEs in the world to possess both the capability to design entire aircraft and a variety of regulatory permissions for the design and construction of modifications to existing aircraft. CAeS is headquartered at Cranfield Airport, where it has access to some of the most advanced aviation testing and research facilities in the United Kingdom.
