2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Tidal Flight says 12-seat design could enter service in 2030

India's Mehair Orders Hybrid-electric Polaris Aircraft

Indian seaplane operator Mehair has confirmed a provisional sales agreement for up to 100 of Sirius Aviation’s in-development hydrogen-powered VTOL aircraft. The deal announced this week covers firm orders for 50 of the aircraft and options for another 50, which Sirius said are collectively worth $400 million (implying a per-aircraft price tag of $4 million).
According to the Swiss start-up, Mumbai-based Mehair will “oversee” the assembly of 50 of the aircraft in India, as well as 1,400 hydrogen “fan jet” propulsion units, 50 fuel cell powertrains, and 10 hydrogen generation units. Sirius&nbsp;has not said how it expects to establish production in India.
The company is developing two variants of the <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2024-01-12/swiss-start-sirius-unveils-hydrogen-powered-vtol-business-jet">hydrogen-electric VTOL design</a>. The private-use Sirius Business Jet will accommodate one pilot and up to three passengers and have&nbsp;an anticipated flight range of 1,150 miles (1,850 kilometers), whereas the larger Sirius Millennium Jet seats up to five passengers and can fly just over half that distance, with a range of 650 miles (1,050 kilometers). Both versions should be able to fly at altitudes of up to 30,000 feet at a cruise speed of 323 mph (520 kph). 
The Sirius Jet’s propulsion system uses hydrogen fuel cells to power 28 electric ducted fans, 20 of which are mounted to the aircraft’s main wing while eight are in the canard. This ducted-fan concept is somewhat reminiscent of the battery-electric <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/video/how-new-evtol-aircraft-lilium-jet-could-be-part-your-future-green-travel-plans">Lilium Jet</a>, although Sirius has incorporated a distinctive V-shaped tail whereas Lilium opted to mount the wing at the rear of the fuselage.
<h3 class="subheading">Big-Name Aerospace and Automotive Partners On Board</h3>
According to Sirius, several large industrial partners have been lined up to support the program, including BMW’s Designworks team, Leonardo’s aerostructures division, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), and the Sauber Group Formula 1 operation. In January, the company unveiled its hydrogen-electric ducted fan propulsion system and it says it aims to roll out prototypes of the aircraft in 2025.
For now, the cost of developing the new aircraft is being entirely supported by Sirius CEO Alexey Popov. He told AIN that his family business FED Joint Stock Company in Ukraine produces aircraft components and parts for companies including IAI and Pratt &amp; Whitney, having previously been closely involved in design work for Antonov. According to him, certification costs can be kept to no more than $250 million, based on a projected timeline of no more than 12 months to build the first prototype and another six months for flight testing.
Mehair already has other options for modernizing its fleet, which is currently based on amphibious versions of the Cessna Grand Caravan utility aircraft. In January, the company signed an <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2024-01-20/indian-regional-airline-mehair-signs-zeroavias-hydrogen-propulsion-system">agreement with ZeroAvia</a> to buy up to 20 of its ZA600 hydrogen propulsion system, which it plans to use to convert 10 of the Caravans. In July 2023, Mehair signed a contract covering orders and options for up to 50 of <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-07-05/indian-regional-airline-plans-switch-fleet-electric-seaplanes">Jekta’s planned electric-powered PHA-ZE 100 amphibious aircraft</a>.
As well as being involved in the manufacturing process for Sirius aircraft produced in India, Mehair said it also expects to develop franchise models for sales and support of the product. The company also aims to develop vertiports and liquid hydrogen refueling facilities, as well as provide training and maintenance for other operators.
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Managing Editor

India's Mehair Adds Sirius Hydrogen VTOL Aircraft to New Fleet Plans

Maritime Energy Heli Air Services (Mehair) is seeking to transition its fleet to hydrogen-electric propulsion through an agreement with powertrain developer ZeroAvia. Under a deal announced on January 18, the Indian scheduled and charter flight operator placed a conditional order for up to 20 of the ZA600 engines and plans to have these installed on 10 Cessna Caravans it intends to acquire or lease.
Since being established in 2011, Mehair has mainly focused on seaplane services in various parts of the Indian sub-continent, including the Andaman and Nicobar islands in the Bay of Bengal. It is now looking to expand its network of sub-regional services with both amphibious and wheeled aircraft. The current fleet includes float-equipped Cessna Grand Caravan single turboprops.
The operator is now exploring options to finance the acquisition and retrofitting of the engines. It already has a relationship with Monte, which is partnered with ZeroAvia for ZA600 leases. Under the new agreement, Mehair will collaborate with ZeroAvia to establish infrastructure and processes for supplying hydrogen fuel.
The Indian government wants to expand the use of hydrogen as part of the country’s clean energy strategy. As part of a goal to achieve net zero carbon by 2070, which is beyond the 2050 objective set by United Nations COP agreements, it aims to boost hydrogen production to five million metric tons per year by 2030.
The expansion of regional flights in India is backed by the government’s UDAN program to develop the use of more small local airports, plus landing strips and waterways. “Aligning with the government’s vision of sustainable aviation, we believe we need to find sustainable ways to power our operations in the future and we’re excited by what ZeroAvia’s technology offers and the progress demonstrated so far,” said MEHAR managing director Siddharth Verma.
According to<a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-09-19/airbus-barclays-and-saudis-invest-hydrogen-propulsion-pioneer-zeroavia"> ZeroAvia</a>, its fuel cell-based propulsion systems will support 9- to 19-seat aircraft operating on routes of up to 300 miles by the end of 2025. The higher-capacity ZA2000 powertrain is also in development for retrofitting 40- to 80-seat regional airliners.
In July 2023, Mehair signed a provisional <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-07-05/indian-regional-airline-plans-switch-fleet-electric-seaplanes">sales agreement with Jekta</a> to buy up to 50 of the 19-seat PHA-ZE 100 electric seaplanes the Swiss company is developing. The first 10 units are covered by deposits with Jekta aiming to start deliveries in 2029.

Mehair

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India's Mehair Orders Hybrid-electric Polaris Aircraft

India's Mehair Adds Sirius Hydrogen VTOL Aircraft to New Fleet Plans

Indian Regional Airline Mehair Signs For ZeroAvia's Hydrogen Propulsion System

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