California Dreaming

ZeroAvia, the British/American hydrogen-electric aircraft developer, announced that it has signed an agreement to provide 250 of its hydrogen-electric ZA2000 engines to certificate-holder Flyshare, Inc.—which intends to pioneer sustainable regional air service in the Western United States under the sobriquet Air Cahana.

Based in Los Angeles, Air Cahana has set out to become the world’s first airline to operate for the express purpose of decarbonizing aviation. The air-carrier intends to deliver environmentally friendly flight, initially, by way of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). Thereafter, as zero-emission propulsion technologies mature, Air Cahana seeks to operate a fleet of propeller aircraft powered by ZeroAvia’s powerplants.

ZeroAvia chief customer officer James Peck stated: “Launching a new airline is not a small challenge, but Air Cahana has an enormous advantage and can unlock a new market by being the earliest to realize the enormous operating savings and zero-emissions benefits of hydrogen-electric engines.”

Air Cahana CEO Tony Thompson remarked: We are at a turning point in aviation as we harness the power of hydrogen. By embracing this groundbreaking technology, we are making an unwavering commitment to eliminating airline emissions and dramatically reducing operating costs. With ZeroAvia's extensive flight testing and in-house IP [Internal Protocol] around core technologies, we have the perfect alliance to achieve our vision. Together, we are poised to revolutionize the aviation industry, setting a new standard for a greener sky and delivering an unparalleled passenger experience. This innovative collaboration positions Cahana as the front-runner in becoming the cleanest airline in the sky.”

The two companies will collaborate, henceforth, on identifying the roll-out for hydrogen-electric aircraft, thereby upping the likelihood of zero-emission commercial flights between metropolitan areas on the U.S. West Coast within the next five years. 

ZeroAvia’s powerplant comprises fuel-cells which generate electricity from compressed, liquid hydrogen fuel. The electricity powers electric motors which can be mated to propellers or rotors to produce thrust. ZeroAvia’s hydrogen-electric propulsion system is some five-times more powerful than any such powerplant demonstrated to date.

To hasten certification of its prototype ZA2000 hydrogen-electric propulsion system, ZeroAvia is making ready to test the architecture by retrofitting a retired 76-seat Alaska Airlines Dash 8 Q400 with such. The regional turboprop will vet the powertrain’s suitability for commercial application.

FMI: www.zeroavia.com