FARNBOROUGH—UK regional airline startup Ecojet has signed an agreement to purchase 22 ZeroAvia ZA2000 hydrogen-electric powertrains, firming up an initial deal for hybrid propulsion systems first announced in November 2023.
The agreement, which includes options for a further 40 engines, paves the way for eventual retrofit of 40-80 seat turboprops and comes as ZeroAvia receives UK CAA regulatory approval to begin initial point-to-point flights of its 650-kW ZA600-equipped Dornier 228 test aircraft.
The flights, which are expected to link ZeroAvia’s Cotswold Airport base and the UK Ministry of Defense Boscombe Down airfield, will be performed to assess remote refueling and other operational aspects. Flights could begin as soon as August, CEO Val Miftakhov says. ZeroAvia will keep the Do 228 in its current configuration, maintaining the maximum flight duration of around 30 min.—well within the 60-mi. distance between the two sites.
For the flight-test program ZeroAvia has replaced the twin-engined Do 228’s left hand Honeywell TPE331 with the ZA600. For the prototype ZA600 powertrain, the fuel cells, their balance of plant, fuel tanks and batteries are all located inside the fuselage.
The latest agreement with Edinburgh-based Ecojet follows the start-up airline’s earlier selection of both ZA600 and ZA2000 engines for its future fleet, ahead of a planned launch later in 2024. The airline, which is thought likely to begin services with conventionally-powered De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otters, will retrofit the aircraft with the ZA600 following engine certification. “Ecojet’s aim is to build a fleet of larger regional aircraft to serve passengers on key domestic and shorter international routes,” ZeroAvia says.
ZeroAvia, meanwhile, says it remains on track for the engine’s initial certification on the Cessna Caravan toward the end of 2025, with entry-into-service on the utility aircraft around mid-2026. Service entry of the larger ZA2000, an engine suitable for aircraft such as the Dash 8, is targeted at 2027.
Ecojet is sourcing the powertrains through regional lessor Monte, which signed a purchase agreement for 100 ZeroAvia engines in June 2023.
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