The UK Civil Aviation Authority's deferral to EASA's standards marks a turnaround in post-Brexit policy after the country left the EU, thereby ending its membership in the European regulatory agency.
The operator is joining Cranfield Aerospace Solutions' Project Fresson to develop supplemental type certificates to convert piston and turboprop aircraft to hydrogen power.
Air Nostrum says it plans to be the launch operator for Hybrid Air Vehicles' 100-seat Airlander 10 airship on domestic routes of up to around 265 miles.
Air Nostrum says it is investing in airships to help meet its objectives under European Union requirements to achieve a 55 percent cut in emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050.
The aircraft developer says that lighter seats will improve the energy efficiency of its six-passenger eVTOL model, which is now set to complete type certification in 2025.
Operational trials at Cergy-Pontoise Airport near Paris are part of a 30-partner initiative to prepare for eVTOL air taxi services to start in the French capital in time for the 2024 Olympic Games.
The South Korean company was an early investor in California-based Overair and is also providing motors and batteries for the six-seat eVTOL aircraft through its aerospace division.