Gasoline-powered aircraft have been the norm since the internal combustion engine was created in the late 1800s . Now , there is a new fuel in town , and it will be cheaper , easier to fuel , and more sustainable . Alaska Airlines and their investment arm Alaska Star Ventures , led by Pasha Saleh , head of corporate development , have partnered with ZeroAvia ( London , California , Washington State ) with a donated Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 to develop a hydrogen-electric powertrain on the existing aircraft . Once developed and tested , this prototype will serve as the model for engine retrofitting on other aircraft .
By providing the airplane , support , and hangar space to ZeroAvia , Alaska Star Ventures will have an equity interest in the company as they develop the technology . Saleh said ZeroAvia ’ s goal would be to retrofit other aircraft in the future . They started with a six-seat aircraft and saw success with hydrogen technology .
The challenges of gas-powered engines are many :
1 . Aircraft creates emissions from burning jet fuel ( releasing CO2 , nitrous gases , water vapor , soot , sulfate , and particles into the atmosphere . Source : Environmental and Energy Institute )
2 . Aviation is the fastest-growing source of greenhouse gas emissions , which will be mitigated with the new powertrain . ( www . zeroavia . com )
3 . Climate is affected by other substances emitted by aircraft – increasing cloudiness , ozone , contrails , soot , and water vapor . ( www . zeroavia . com )
Saleh said , “ Bombardier is a good platform . Alaska operated a fleet of them for 20 years . If you want to decarbonize regional aviation , start with a proven airframe , a rugged workhorse .”
The benefits of moving to a hydrogen-electric powertrain are many :
1 . On-site airport production of hydrogen fuels reduces fuel transportation and costs . 2 . Water vapor , the output of a hydrogen engine , is much cleaner and has no emissions . 3 . Renewable sources will lower the costs for the airlines to operate .
26 NORTHWEST AEROSPACE NEWS