News: ZeroAvia ZA601 Electric Engine Final Special Conditions Given

Final Special Conditions Given By FAA For ZeroAvia Electric Engine
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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has now finalized the special conditions for the ZeroAvia ZA601 electric engine. The electric engine will be forming part of the ZA600 powertrain. ZeroAvia made headlines on JF in early February when news surfaced that the company had reportedly laid-off half of its workforce after funding rounds did not materialize acceptable funding to continue their developmental objectives. They instead are putting their efforts to certifying the electric engine ZA601 firstly.

The FAA waived the standard 30-day waiting period before the rules take effect. “Under standard practice, the effective date of final special conditions would be 30 days after the date of publication in the Federal Register. However, as the certification date for the ZeroAvia ZA601 electric engine is imminent, the FAA finds that good cause exists to make these special conditions effective upon publication,” the agency said.

ZeroAvia is currently targeting 2027 for the certification of the hydrogen fuel cell power generation system by itself. ZeroAvia’s ZA601 is the electric propulsion component of the total ZA600 (600 kilowatt) hydrogen-electric powertrain. This when it is completed will be a retrofittable fuel cell system that the company plans to initially mate with the Cessna Caravan platform. Since ZeroAvia suggested that they are just working on the ZA601 electric engine any further flight testing for now is out of the question. Previously the company was doing flight testing with a Dornier 228.

Earlier this month, ZeroAvia announced that it signed a deal which will see it support the Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) in the development and testing of liquid hydrogen storage systems for aircraft. As part of the agreement, ZeroAvia will advise KAERI on the design for these systems, while embarking on a multi-year testing project utilizing ZeroAvia’s state-of-the-art LH2 test facility at Cotswold Airport in the UK.

For more information:

ZeroAvia
Hangar C2 Cotswold Airport,
Kemble, Cirencester,
England, GL7 6BA
www.zeroavia.com

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