At the Paris Air Show, the new Californian airline Air Cahana, based in Los Angeles, has placed an order for 250 ZA2000 hydrogen-electric engines, developed by ZeroAvia.
See also: Paris Air Show: ZeroAvia confirms the feasibility of a hydrogen-powered CRJ700
Air Cahana orders 250 engines from ZeroAvia
Air Cahana, founded in 2019, aims to be the first carrier to offer «sustainable flights» from the very start of its commercial activities. According to its management, it aims to adopt low-emission propulsion technologies as new solutions become available on the market. To this end, it will initially operate turboprops using ZeroAvia’s zero-emission propulsion systems.
In addition, the two companies will collaborate to identify opportunities for the deployment of more clean aircraft operations in major metropolitan areas in the eastern United States.
«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», said James Peck, ZeroAvia’s Chief Customer Officer.
«We are at a turning point in aviation as we harness the power of hydrogen», said Tony Thompson, CEO of Air Cahana. «By embracing this groundbreaking technology, we are making an unwavering commitment to eliminating airline emissions and dramatically reducing operating cost», he added.
The ZA2000 powerplant
According to ZeroAvia, the ZA2000 powerplant will have a power output of between 2 and 5 megawatts. The expected range is about 500 nautical miles (926 kilometres). A prototype will soon be tested on a 76-seat Dash 8-400.
The system’s powertrain uses hydrogen as fuel to generate electricity to power the engines. ZeroAvia was assisted in its development by Alaska Airlines, which also invested in the project. If all goes according to plan, the ZA2000 powerplant could be certified in 2027.
See also: Paris Air Show: Dash 8 hybrid-electric engine development progresses
