Sun, May 18, 2025
Operator Partners With ZeroAvia to Fly Hydrogen-Electric Cessna 208Bs
RVL Aviation has inked a deal with ZeroAvia to fly what may be the ‘world’s first’ zero-emission cargo service. The operator will utilize Cessna Grand Caravans retrofitted with the hydrogen-electric ZA600 power plant.
“Today is a proud day for all of our team in our pursuit of a clean future of flight as we now have a confirmed launch operator with concrete plans to fly aircraft powered by the ZA600 engine,” explained ZeroAvia Founder and CEO Val Miftakhov. “We have the engine design; we have the integration plans for the launch airframe; we have the solutions to provide the hydrogen fuel; and we have the customers wanting to operate the first routes.”
Zero-emission flights will be launched in the British Isles, but not before the partners are able to tick all certification and integration boxes. ZeroAvia has been working closely with regulatory bodies to certify the ZA600 electric propulsion system (EPS). It has already received a Certification Basis (G-1) issue paper from the FAA that puts it on track to get the green light sometime this year.
The 600 kW ZA600 is a proven design, undergoing extensive testing on board a Dornier 228 at the manufacturer’s UK base. ZeroAvia is now collaborating with Textron Aviation to make the Cessna Grand Caravan the ZA600 EPS’s launch airframe.
RVL Aviation, with support from zero-emissions aviation lessor MONTE, has confirmed that the ZA600-powered Cessna Caravan 208B will meet all current operational requirements for cargo services while reducing the aircraft’s footprint to almost zero. If all goes well, RVL may expand the partnership to more small turboprop operations in its network and other parts of its offerings.
"This is a genuinely exciting initiative, and it is a crucial step forward for our ambition to be at the heart of the global effort to decarbonise this sector,” expressed Dave Connor, CEO of RVL Aviation. “The team at ZeroAvia has done a remarkable job to lead and progress this technology, and everyone at RVL Aviation is proud to be on this path alongside other forward-thinking businesses.”
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