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AMSL Aero has completed its first year of hydrogen fuel cell testing for the Vertiia electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
The firm, based at Sydney’s Bankstown Airport, says Vertiia will be able to fly up to 1000km with its 100kW hydrogen fuel cell powertrain. AMSL Aero has used more than 200 kilograms of hydrogen in its functional test bed since it began trials in mid-2024.
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The news also comes after Vertiia’s first free flight successfully took off in November last year.
“In just one year, our world-class engineering team has successfully demonstrated the practical applications of hydrogen in aviation,” said Chris Smallhorn, chairman of AMSL Aero.
“Our collaboration with Bankstown Airport is instrumental in our ongoing mission to offer longer-distance flights that cut both the cost and carbon footprint of travel across Australia and elsewhere.”
According to AMSL Aero, the testing pumped 30kW of electricity into the airport’s power grid over three working weeks. The test bench has also been used to recharge Vertiia between flights at Wellington Aerodrome in rural NSW.
Tom Smith, CEO of Bankstown Airport operator Aeria Management Group, said the airport is “leading the way in the national flight path towards net-zero aviation”.
“A year on, we are proud to continue working with the pioneering team at AMSL Aero to land hydrogen-fuelled flights for all Australians, including essential emergency and aeromedical services in regional and rural Australia.”
AMSL Aero in 2023 received $5.43 million in federal government funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency to develop hydrogen fuel cell technology for Vertiia.
In total, the firm has received deposits for at least 26 Vertiia aircraft orders from civil customers, including 20 from Aviation Logistics, which operates the Air Link, AirMed and Chartair brands covering passenger services, aircraft charter, air freight and aeromedical flights across Australia.
It comes after Australian Aviation reported last year how AMSL Aero landed its first partnership in New Zealand.
The firm will work with aeromedical organisation Life Flight New Zealand to support the future use of its Vertiia electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in the country.
