HAV begins Airlander 10 Type Certification programme

29.02.2024

• Hybrid Air Vehicles has submitted a Type Certificate application to the UK Civil Aviation Authority for the Airlander 10, the CAA’s first for a large aircraft since 1979.
• Application marks the formal start of the certification process that will assure safety of the future fleet of Airlander 10 in civil aviation roles including passenger mobility for up to 100 passengers and logistics flights with up to 10 tonne payloads.
• Concurrent regulatory work in the USA and the EU will enable new, ultra-low emissions air services globally, starting with deliveries against £1bn+ of reserved orders.

Hybrid Air Vehicles Ltd has today announced that it has formally begun the Type Certification process for Airlander 10, designed to be the world’s most efficient large aircraft, with the UK’s aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Airlander 10 is the first in a new category of efficient aircraft, designed to make possible new ultra-low emissions air services around the world. Type Certification is a rigorous process that assures a safe aircraft design. This process is now underway, passing a significant milestone towards the commercialisation of a fleet of Airlander 10 aircraft in mobility, logistics, and tourism & leisure roles. Later planned developments include the introduction of electric motors, leading to a zero-emission version of the aircraft by 2030.

This is expected to be the first approval for a UK-derived large aircraft since 1979. Work is planned to be carried out concurrently with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States to enable global deliveries.

Following the application, the CAA and Hybrid Air Vehicles will agree a plan for the Type Certification process, which will identify how Hybrid Air Vehicles will prove Airlander 10 achieves the requirements set out in the basis for certification, a step known as the means of compliance. With the CAA’s involvement, Hybrid Air Vehicles will develop extensive documentation and conduct a range of planned tests. As for previous Type Certification processes, certification will utilise a range of analysis, simulation, laboratory, ground and flight tests.

The application for Type Certification is the milestone that formally starts the path to delivery of £1bn of current reserved orders for Airlander 10, and up to 24 aircraft a year from a new production line to be sited in South Yorkshire. Initial reservations include 20 aircraft for regional passenger mobility services for launch airline customer Air Nostrum Group, and aircraft destined for use in the tourism and travel sector. Earlier in February 2024, Grands Espaces, a leading tourism company, reserved an Airlander 10 aircraft for unique and sustainable exploration experiences.