Hawthorne-based firm Universal Hydrogen Co. is ready to take off after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted the company a “special airworthiness certificate” to fly its hydrogen-powered regional aircraft.
The aircraft, a Dash 8-300 flying testbed, has a megawatt-class hydrogen fuel cell powertrain installed in the outer casing of one of its engines, which provides the power to turn the aircraft propellers.
The Business Journal reports that the aircraft will be the most significant hydrogen fuel cell-powered aircraft and the first in the United States.
Instead of a hybrid battery design, Universal Hydrogen’s powertrain directs all power from the fuel cells to the electric motor, reducing weight and lifecycle costs.
Dash 8-300 testbed first flight
The FAA authorization clears the way for the Dash 8-300 flying testbed’s first flight, which is scheduled for Grant County International Airport in Moses Lake, Washington.
Universal Hydrogen’s hydrogen-powered flight will be second only to the Soviet flight test of a Tupolev Tu-155 airliner converted to burn hydrogen in 1988.
The company’s first product, a conversion kit for ATR 72-600 regional jets, is presumed to be accredited and in commercial passenger service by 2025.
Universal Hydrogen also released video footage of the aircraft’s successful first taxi tests, during which the company assessed ground handling qualities and the efficiency of the fuel-cell electric powertrain at low-power setups and airspeeds.
Paris Agreement obligations
Universal Hydrogen co-founder and CEO Paul Eremenko stated that the FAA approval and taxi tests are critical and “important steps toward putting the industry on a trajectory to meet Paris Agreement obligations.”
“We are simultaneously providing a pragmatic, near-term solution for hydrogen infrastructure and delivery, as well as for converting existing passenger aircraft to use this lightweight, safe, and true zero-emissions fuel,” he stated. “The only alternative is curtailing aviation traffic growth to curb emissions.”
Universal Hydrogen co-founder and CEO Paul Eremenko
Universal Hydrogen, supported by JetBlue Technology Ventures, announced its intention to move its manufacturing to Albuquerque, New Mexico, last year.
The city of Albuquerque and the state have now awarded the company $12 million in economic incentives for its Albuquerque facility, where production is expected to begin in 2024.
