Hydrogen-powered aircraft: Revolutionary project takes flight
American Airlines has announced a project to transition entirely to hydrogen-powered engines, aiming to revolutionise the aviation industry with zero-emission flights.
The initiative, in partnership with ZeroAvia, involves the acquisition of 100 hydrogen-electric motors. ZeroAvia's technology utilises hydrogen in fuel cells to generate electricity, which powers the airplane's electric propulsive motors.
The switch to hydrogen-electric systems presents numerous advantages over traditional jet engines, including the elimination of in-flight carbon emissions. This move aligns with American Airlines' ambitious goal to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
ZeroAvia plans to initially develop engines for 20-seat aircraft, with future scalability to larger regional jets such as the Bombardier CRJ700, commonly used by American Airlines. To meet these targets, ZeroAvia aims for certification of its technology for 20-seat aircraft by the end of 2025 and for 40 to 80-seat aircraft with a range of up to 700 miles by 2027.