Textron Aviation

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 and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Under a new partnership, Textron Aviation will electrify its Cessna Grand Caravans using the ZeroAvia ZA600 hydrogen-electric propulsion system.

Textron, ZeroAvia Team on Caravan Hydrogen Conversions

Textron Aviation is to electrify its Cessna Grand Caravan utility aircraft using ZeroAvia’s 600-kW hydrogen-electric propulsion system. Under a development agreement announced on September 29, the companies will work together to obtain an FAA supplemental&nbsp;type certificate to retrofit the turboprop aircraft using the ZA600 powertrain.
California-based ZeroAvia aims to complete certification of the ZA600 system by 2025. Its work will now be supported by Textron’s engineers, who will provide data and certification support.
The U.S. manufacturer has already delivered more than 2,400 Grand Caravans worldwide, giving the partners a large potential retrofit market. According to ZeroAvia, the aircraft’s high-wing design makes it suitable for mounting hydrogen fuel tanks under the wings, without limiting space for passengers or freight.&nbsp;
Textron has created an&nbsp;eAviation division to advance plans for electric-powered aircraft. This year it acquired electric aviation pioneer Pipistrel.
Meanwhile, ZeroAvia is continuing ground testing of a converted<a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-05-06/zeroavia-converts-second-dornier-228-hydrogen-propulsion-flight-testing"> Dornier 228 aircraft </a>and says that within the next few weeks it will be ready to start test flights from its facility at Cotswold Airport in the UK. The company, which earlier this year raised an <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-07-20/zeroavia-raises-additional-30-million-series-b-funding-round">additional $30 million</a>,&nbsp;wants to convert nine- to <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-08-04/american-airlines-commits-hydrogen-powered-regional-fleet-zeroavia">19-seat regional airliners </a>to hydrogen power using the same ZA600 system. It is also working on a more powerful 2.5-MW ZA2000 system for <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-05-23/zeroavia-advances-hydrogen-regional-jet-plans-mitsubishi">40- to 80-seat aircraft</a> that it says could be ready to enter commercial service in 2027.
Other companies, such as <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-04-26/ampaire-seeks-new-funding-hybrid-electric-plans-surf-air-acquisition">Ampaire</a>, are working on plans to convert the Grand Caravan to electric propulsion. It is developing a conversion program for what it calls the EcoCaravan.
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Managing Editor

Textron Partners with ZeroAvia to Convert Grand Caravan Aircraft to Hydrogen Propulsion

Matt Thurber

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

Tamarack Aerospace winglet customers will be able to buy carbon-balancing services from Oxï-Zen under an agreement between the two companies.

Tamarack Signs MoU for Oxï-Zen Carbon Balancing

Jerry Siebenmark

News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

The STC was awarded following the installation and testing of SmartSky Network's hardware on a flyExclusive Citation X.

SmartSky Adds STC for Cessna Citation X Bizjet

James Wynbrandt

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Tailwind's New York to Washington DC flights will serve College Park Airport in Maryland with Cessna Caravans on amphibious floats.

Tailwind To Launch NY to D.C. Seaplane Service

The U.S. Forest Service will use the new King Air 260s for wildfire mapping missions.