ZeroAvia

Monte Aircraft Leasing has now fully committed to purchasing up to 100 of ZeroAvia’s hydrogen fuel cell powertrains to turn its fleet of nine- to 19-seat regional turboprops into more sustainable, hydrogen-powered aircraft. 

With a 3.8-ton payload and range of up to 900 nm, the Kona is the smallest member of a planned family of autonomous freighters.

The former Horizon Air regional airliner will be fitted with ZeroAvia's ZA2000 powertrain, which combines fuel cells with electric motors to run on liquid hydrogen.

On-airport hydrogen infrastructure can support not only aircraft refueling, but complementary traffic from heavy-duty transportation, materials handling equipment, and other energy consuming systems.

ZeroAvia says it has achieved record-breaking performance while testing the high-temperature proton exchange membrane (HTPEM) systems in its hydrogen fuel cells.

The hydrogen propulsion system developer is working with energy group Shell and Rotterdam The Hague Airport to prepare for initial demonstration flights with a regional airliner in 2024, followed by operations with fare-paying passengers in 2025.

A 19-seat Dornier 228 aircraft with one of its turboprop engines replaced by the company's fuel-cell-based powertrain made a 10-minute flight on January 19 from Kemble Airport in the UK.

ZeroAvia will work with the airport group to explore the necessary infrastructure to support hydrogen-powered flights from two airports in Scotland.

The deal strengthens ZeroAvia's efforts to have supplemental type certificates in place to support the launch of commercial services of converted regional airliners on flights of up to 300 miles by 2025.

The companies see a market to retrofit some of the 2,400 turboprop utility aircraft already delivered worldwide under a supplemental type certificate for the 600-kW ZA600 powertrain.