The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has announced Cranfield Aerospace Solutions, the Exeter Airport Cosnortium and ZeroAvia as the first additions to its Hydrogen Challenge.
The challenge, which was launched back in November last year, is using a Regulatory Sandbox approach to ensure regulation is fit for purpose and can reduce challenges associated with the potential introduction of hydrogen fuel into aviation. With it still at an early stage of development, the sector is yet to fully understand the potential risks to aviation safety hydrogen could have, nor the right pathway to certification.
Through enabling collaboration with industry and academia, the challenge will improve understanding of the hydrogen-related risks in aviation, identify gaps in policies, before then proposing new recommendations to develop net zero policies.
Cranfield Aerospace Solutions is working to develop a hydrogen fuel cell drivetrain that can be applied to aircraft, with ground testing and flight trials eyed for later this year. It will work with the regulator to identify hazards, risks and safety challenges associated with the project, with the UKCAA’s role helping to increase industry and regulatory readiness to introduce hydrogen and new technologies.
The environmental impact of aircraft turnarounds at Exeter Airport will be the focus of a study carried out by Regional & City Airports, TUI and Cranfield University. The Exeter Airport Consortium is going to set to use the challenge to enable it and the UK Civil Aviation Authority to review and provide regulatory feedback on safety cases, test plans and risk assessments.
ZeroAvia, meanwhile, is working to develop hydrogen-electric engines for aviation and is already flying a prototype system in a Dornier 228 testbed under a UK Civil Aviation Authority Permit to Fly. It will work alongside the regulator to identify the hazards, risks and safety challenges associated with the retrofitting of a hydrogen-electric powertrain.
