Jekta Partners with ZeroAvia to Introduce Hydrogen-Electric PHA-ZE Amphibious Aircraft
Key Ideas
- Jekta and ZeroAvia collaborate to demonstrate a fuel cell variant of the PHA-ZE amphibious aircraft, offering operators a choice of hydrogen or battery power sources.
- The hydrogen powertrain promises increased range for longer regional routes, while battery power remains suitable for shorter-range missions and cost-effective locations.
- ZeroAvia CEO emphasizes the importance of clean sheet design around hydrogen-electric propulsion for efficient and scalable integration.
- Partnerships with energy companies like Shell and Masdar are crucial for building the necessary ground and airport infrastructure to support hydrogen-electric flights.
Switzerland-based company Jekta has joined forces with ZeroAvia to unveil a hydrogen-electric variant of its PHA-ZE amphibious aircraft. At the Farnborough International Airshow, Jekta's CEO George Alafinov highlighted the advantages of a hydrogen-electric solution over battery technology, with a focus on maximizing the technology of the hydrogen powertrain during the design stage. By collaborating with ZeroAvia, Jekta aims to offer operators the flexibility of choosing between hydrogen and battery power sources for their aircraft, catering to different mission requirements. ZeroAvia's CEO Val Miftakhov underlined the efficiency of integrating new engine designs into clean sheet aircraft, emphasizing the potential of hydrogen-electric propulsion in the amphibious aircraft market. The partnership also highlights the need for ground and airport infrastructure to support hydrogen-electric flights, with existing collaborations with energy companies like Shell and Masdar to supply hydrogen near airports. Overall, the collaboration between Jekta and ZeroAvia signals a positive step towards innovative and sustainable advancements in the aviation industry.