How’s H2 progressing through the Certification Track?

The UK CAA recently announced its forming of a working group focused on developing HYDROGREN as a future source of GREEN AVIATION FUEL. The government body assigned an impressive leader for this project and has supported the effort with a £12m investment in this technology.
What is the FAA doing to help develop this resource?

• In 2018 it established its Advisory and Rulemaking Committees Energy Supply Device ARC[1]. Its 2021 recommendations included:
• Safety Baseline Regulation: The committee emphasized the need for a safety baseline regulation specifically for fuel cell systems. This includes identifying potential hazards and ensuring that these systems meet stringent safety standards.
• Integration with Aircraft Systems: Recommendations were made on how to effectively integrate fuel cell systems with existing aircraft systems. This involves addressing compatibility issues and ensuring seamless operation.
• Regulatory Revisions: The ARC suggested revisions to existing regulations, particularly those under CFR/CS Part 25, to accommodate the unique requirements of fuel cell systems. They also highlighted areas where current regulations are sufficient and do not require changes.
• Performance-Based Regulation: The committee advocated for performance-based regulations that focus on the outcomes and safety performance of fuel cell systems rather than prescriptive measures.
• Operational Regulations: Recommendations included updates to operational regulations to ensure that the use of fuel cell systems in aviation operations is safe and efficient.
• Advisory Material: The ARC proposed the development of advisory materials to guide the industry in the design, installation, and operation of fuel cell systems.
• In 2019 it formed an Energy Supply Device Aviation Rulemaking Committee. Its report included these points as to Hydrogen
• Safety and Hazard Mitigation:
• Conduct comprehensive safety assessments for hydrogen fuel cell systems, focusing on potential hazards like hydrogen leakage and fire risks.
• Develop robust mitigation strategies to address these hazards.
• Design and Integration:
• Establish clear design standards for hydrogen fuel cell systems, including requirements for materials, construction, and safety features.
• Ensure seamless integration of hydrogen fuel cells with existing aircraft systems, addressing compatibility issues.
• Certification and Testing:
• Implement rigorous testing protocols to validate the performance and safety of hydrogen fuel cell systems.
• Develop certification processes that align with these testing protocols to ensure compliance with safety standards.
• Operational Guidelines:
• Create detailed operational guidelines for the use of hydrogen fuel cell systems in various flight conditions.
• Provide specialized training for flight crews and maintenance personnel on the safe operation and handling of hydrogen fuel cells.
• Maintenance and Inspection:
• Develop specific maintenance schedules and inspection procedures for hydrogen fuel cell systems.
• Ensure maintenance personnel are trained to handle the unique aspects of hydrogen fuel cell technology.
• Emergency Procedures:
• Establish emergency procedures for dealing with hydrogen fuel cell-related incidents, such as hydrogen leaks or system failures.
• Integrate these procedures into the overall emergency response plans for aircraft.
• Environmental Impact:
• Assess the environmental impact of hydrogen fuel cell systems, including emissions and waste management.
• Develop guidelines to minimize the environmental footprint of these systems.
• Operational Regulations: Update operational regulations to ensure the safe and efficient use of fuel cell systems in aviation operations.
• Advisory Material: Develop advisory materials to guide the industry in the design, installation, and operation of fuel cell systems.
• Established Environmental Goals- U.S. Aviation Decarbonization Goals
• Develop SAF that achieves a minimum of a 50 percent reduction in greenhouse gasses compared to conventional fuel.
• By 2030, industry produces at least 3 billion gallons of SAF per year.
• By 2050, industry produces sufficient SAF to meet 100 percent of aviation fuel demand, which is projected to be 35 billion gallons per year.
• More specifically, policies, procedures and practices have been set for applicants seeking to provide greener technologies:
• Emissions Certification Policy and Guidance
• Aviation Emissions Characterization
• Engine Emissions
• The FAA supports Research and Development (R&D) to develop new aircraft and engine technologies and evaluate sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). Technologies developed by this program will result in a fleet of aircraft that have lower noise, use less fuel, and produce fewer emissions.
• ASCENT Emissions Research
• The FAA recognizes the need for High Level expertise for a leading edge technology like hydrogen. So, it has created a special category of experts in a program called Senior Technical Experts Program (STEP). This set of FAA executives provides an elite cadre of scientists and technical specialists in a wide range of emerging knowledge. The STEPs apply world-class expertise to the ongoing work of promoting safety-enhancing innovation, policies, and practices in the FAA’s regulatory, certification, and oversight programs. Green Aviation propulsion endeavors benefit from these two highly qualified scholars:
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• Here is an example of their support in a regulatory action- FAA Issues Experimental Airworthiness Certificate for Universal Hydrogen’s Dash 8 Testbed

Stay tuned for developments. The rush, perhaps better defined as competition, to bring green propulsion will generate much news from alternative sources, multiple companies and the relevant CAAs.

• UK regulator brings together experts to give lift to the future of hydrogen fuel
• July 28, 2024

UK regulator brings together experts to give lift to the future of hydrogen fuel.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority has today announced a new WORKING GROUP to continue to support the development of hydrogen as the next step for green fuel in the aviation industry.
H2WO (THE HYDROGEN WORKING GROUP) will ensure that the development and implementation of the Hydrogen Challenge aligns with stakeholder needs and expectations while maintaining a high standard of safety and encouraging efficiency and innovation.
The group’s work will help develop hydrogen into a functional, scalable form of aviation fuel, focusing on the use of Hydrogen to power aircraft, the certification of aircraft which use it as a fuel, and the handling, safety and infrastructure needed at airports to facilitate the change.
The group will be a collaboration between the regulator and government, industry, academia, and community stakeholders connected to the Hydrogen Challenge project. It will facilitate engagement, consultation, and collaboration on how hydrogen can continue to be developed as one of the ways the industry can achieve net zero.

Sophie O’Sullivan, Head of Future Safety and Innovation at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said:
Introducing hydrogen as an aviation fuel is a critical step towards the achievement of zero emission flight in the future.
“This is why we’ve been working to encourage development and safe experimentation in the sector, ensuring that the UK continues to move towards a future with greener, safer aviation industry. Launching the H₂Wo is another important link in this chain.
“As with so many other innovations in aviation, the USE OF HYDROGEN AS AN AVIATION FUEL IS MOVING FROM YESTERDAY’S REMOTE FANTASY TO AN INEVITABLE REALITY. The UK Civil Aviation Authority will work at pace to enable the safe testing and use of hydrogen, supporting the development of the industry whilst maintaining public safety.”
APPLICATIONS FOR H₂WO OPEN ON 23RD JULY 2024 AND WILL CLOSE 5TH SEPTEMBER 2024.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority launched the Hydrogen Challenge in 2023. In November 2022, the UK Government awarded the Civil Aviation Authority a grant of £939,150 via the Regulators’ Pioneer Fund to deliver the Hydrogen Challenge. The RPF is a grant-based fund to enable UK regulators and local authorities to help create a UK regulatory environment that encourages business innovation and investment. The current £12m round is being delivered by the DSIT. The Civil Aviation Authority is working with companies such as ZeroAvia and Cranfield Aerospace.
The Hydrogen Challenge allows collaboration between industry and academia to understand the opportunities and risks that hydrogen as a fuel poses. This drives safety, helps identify gaps in regulation, and allows for new recommendations to develop future Jet Zero policies.
The project is currently enabling innovation sandboxes allowing companies to safely run tests and collect data on the use of hydrogen as a fuel. Experts have also developed a hazard, risk, challenges, and opportunities log to help build the roadmap to widespread deployment of an exciting technology of the future.

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[1] The FAA Energy Supply Device Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) was tasked with developing a comprehensive understanding of safety issues and installation requirements for energy supply devices, such as fuel cells, in aviation. This committee supported the FAA’s anticipated applications for fuel cell installations by identifying hazards, determining design and operational principles, and recommending appropriate airworthiness standards².