Dubai Airshow: ACIA takes the plunge on hydrogen

It has signed a letter of intent for 10 firm ATR 72 kit orders, plus 20 options, for conversion kits for various turboprop types totalling kits for 60 engines. The firm agreement will be signed within 60 days.

ACIA said it is focusing on long-term sustainability in aviation by working with Universal Hydrogen to decarbonise its fleet of turboprop aircraft, said Mick Mooney, chief executive of ACIA.

Universal Hydrogen is developing a conversion kit for regional aircraft that consists of a fuel cell electric powertrain that replaces the existing turboprop engines where hydrogen is the fuel source.

The first Universal Hydrogen powered demonstration aircraft, a de Havilland Dash 8-400, is expected to fly in 2022 with the first demonstration ATR 72 expected in 2023. ACIA expects to receive its first ATR 72 kits in 2025, said Mooney.

ACIA is making this move because of strong customer demand for zero emissions aircraft. “Our customers are pushing us to do this,” said Mooney. “This is key for us. We don’t want to be reacting to the market, we want to be in a leading position,” he added.

“ACIA’s diverse customer base allows us to have a major decarbonisation impact on regional aviation globally,” said Paul Eremenko, Universal Hydrogen co-founder and chief executive. “ACIA’s passenger and cargo aircraft leasing customers will be able to move to true zero emissions operations as early as the mid-2020s, putting them in the vanguard of clean aviation.”

Mooney concluded: “Our lessees are actively looking for ways to decrease overall costs and reduce their carbon footprint. Decarbonising our fleet encourages customers and competitors to follow our lead in advancing the development of carbon-free solutions.”