Cranfield University has played a crucial role in the first hydrogen-powered turnaround of a commercial aircraft in the UK.
Working with a consortium of partners – Exeter Airport, TUI, ULEMCo, MULAG and Boeing – a trial saw a TUI Boeing 737 aircraft land at Exeter Airport, before then being prepped to take off again with multiple pieces of hydrogen-powered equipment used. Forming part of the Civil Aviation Authority’s Hydrogen Challenge project, the live demonstration featured a hydrogen-powered baggage tug, pushback tug and ground power unit.
It marked the first time that multiple pieces of hydrogen-powered equipment have been used simultaneously for a commercial air transport operational aircraft, with green hydrogen from renewable energy sources used.
Commenting, Dr Thomas Budd, Associate Professor of Airport Decarbonisation at Cranfield University, said: “Being able to demonstrate these technologies as part of a live aircraft turnaround not only demonstrates the viability of hydrogen as a fuel for decarbonising ground operations in the short-term, but will also help develop the regulatory framework to support hydrogen aircraft in the years to come.”
