Adriano Di Pietro Takes the Helm As Hydrogen-Electric Aircraft Moves Towards Certification

Australian hydrogen-electric VTOL developer AMSL Aero announced a new CEO in the form of Doctor Adriano Di Pietro, putting him in charge as they move towards Vertiia certification.

The Vertiia is one of the more utilitarian options in the country, able to run off of hybrid power and refuel from hydrogen wherever available. They’ve even gotten to work on the supply issue there, readying hydrogen infrastructure wherever possible. Most recently, they had registered their liquid hydrogen tanks for use in Australia, allowing them to ship 30 kilograms of fuel in each one to wherever they’re needed. For now, they plan to move the fuel under a limited, bespoke supply chain, moving it to appropriate facilities wherever testing occurs.

Di Pietro brings two decades of experience in the defense, aerospace, and automotive systems industries, with a PhD in advanced aerospace manufacturing tech and a bachelors in engineering. He will lead the way on the second full-scale prototype of the Vertiia, and take point as they complete its first hydrogen-powered flight test program. Once they get certification for the Vertiia under CASA there, he plans to scale up manufacturing for global commercial expansion. The company cites “strong forward orders”, thanks to their long-range, roomy aircraft. If they can deliver on all the promises on the box, Australia will have a real AAM contender on its hands.

“I am excited to join AMSL Aero. I believe in the company’s bold vision to revolutionise air  mobility through accessible zero-emissions technology,” said the new CEO. “AMSL has a world-class team that’s not only redefining the future of aviation but building a cleaner, faster, and more connected regional transportation system, something that’s vital to Australia’s economic resilience, accessibility, and future prosperity.”

AMSL Aero Co-Founder and Board Director Andrew Moore said: “I am delighted that Adriano has chosen to join AMSL Aero. His deep technical expertise and industry leadership make him uniquely suited to lead the team into our next growth phase as we move towards hydrogen flight testing.”

FMI: www.amslaero.com