Universal Hydrogen launch customer, big order for Aura Aero...- Allplane Newsletter #64
Like (pretty much) every week, here’s our commercial aviation wrap-up and, as always, with a focus on sustainability and innovation
Hydrogen corner
Universal Hydrogen has announced its launch customer in the cargo market for the hydrogen-capsule technology is developing. ASL Aviation will retrofit its ATR-72 aircraft to carry hydrogen capsules. The hydrogen will also be supplied by Universal Hydrogen.
Plug Power hydrogen fuel cells will power Airflow’s new eSTOL aircraft, a 9-seater with an expected range of 500 miles. Having an hydrogen fuel cell instead of a battery powering its aircraft, Airflow expects to be able to serve longer distances.
By the way, Airflow is a graduate of Sustainable Aero Lab (we also did a podcast about this sustainable aviation accelerator based in Hamburg!)
Sustainable aviation industry news
McKinsey has published a report that helps visualize the future air mobility order book globally (who has ordered what?).
Also from McKinsey, this assessment of the path to net zero 2050 and the prospects of achieving it. In short: it is possible, but requires massive investment. Interestingly most of this investment will have to go not to aviation-specific technology, but to overcome green energy supply bottlenecks.
Now that we are at it, I recommend you check this podcast I did with Robin Riedel, of McKinsey, a true thought leader in this space.
Have you hard about Project Olga? The so-called hOListic Green Airport project is an EU-funded initiative involving some 40 different industry partners that aims to reduce land-side and air-side carbon emissions at airports and it just got its public presentation.
Electric flight & eVTOLs
The flight training market is emerging as the first main real use case for all electric aircraft. Not entirely expected. This time is Diamond Aircraft that has presented its eDA40 light aircraft deigned for flight schools. The press release contains quite a few interesting details: the battery set is going to be provided by Electric Power Systems, whose fast-charging technology will allow for a full recharge in under 20 minutes. The eDA40 is expected to fly already in mid-2022, with certification expected in 2023.
Just as important as the battery is the way to charge them. This is why Lilium and engineering giant ABB have signed a partnership to roll-out ABB’s MegaWatt Charging System (MCS) across the network of vertiports that Lilium is expecting to use when it launches commercially (in the US, Germany and Brazil) in 2024. It will take 30 minutes to recharge Lilium’s 7-seater, but 15 minutes will suffice to get to 80% which I guess will be enough for most use cases (20 to 25 rides per day and per aircraft are envisaged).
Pipistrel will supply 50 electric aircraft to UK flight schools in a deal through its British distributor.
Leasing company Amedeo (which made headlines a few years ago with a large A380 order) has signed a letter of intent to get 200 electric regional aircraft from French startup Aura Aero.
Skyports is partnering with SEA Milan Airports to develop vertiports for all sorts of new air mobility models all throughout Italy in the coming years. The focus for now will be on the infrastructure for the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
The Japanese city of Osaka, host of Expo 2025, seems keen on being the launchpad for advanced air mobility services in the country. Japan Airlines has announced that it will source 50 VA-X4 eVTOLs from Avolon’s order book with the idea to kick-start the urban air ride-sharing business in Japan at the Osaka expo. Volocopter may also deploy its aircraft at the event.
Swedish electric aircraft startup Heart Aerospace has submitted to EASA a type certification application for its 19-seat airliner. Here’s a pic of the CEO signing it.
World of SAF
Rolls-Royce, Shell and Airbus have made a joint call to accelerate the adoption of sustainable aviation fuel.
In line with these aims, Rolls-Royce has flown a Boeing 747 with one engine running on 100% SAF. Here’s the video.
Easyjet is powering a number of flights out of London Gatwick airport with a 30% Sustainable Aviation Fuel blend (provided by Neste). This is quite a high percentage! Previous airline SAF experiments usually involved blends in the low single digits.
Synhelion has received German government funds to build its first industrial scale solar fuels plant in Germany. To learn more about this promising technology, check out the podcast we did with Synhelion a few months ago.
What else has happened in aviation?
Jaw-droppingly beautiful air-to-air behind-the-scenes footage of Air Belgium’s recently delivered A330neo
Alaska Airlines is the latest airline to get into the venture capital industry. The first cheque has been to VC firm UP.Partners, which specializes in mobility innovation.
AirAsia has created a holding company for its airline businesses, to facilitate further diversification in the digital and other ventures it is involved in.
More new airlines and airline bankruptcies (yes, I have finally, reluctantly, included the Alitalia to ITA Airways thing in each of these lists!)