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.