Bankstown Airport leads Australia in hydrogen-powered aviation with AMSL Aero partnership
Hydrogen offers a clean and efficient fuel for aviation, providing zero-emission, longer-distance flights that can reduce both the cost and environmental impact of air travel.
Aeria Management Group (AMG) has teamed up with AMSL Aero, a company that designs and manufactures zero-emission long-range Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft, to introduce hydrogen as an aviation fuel at the leading general aviation airport in Southwest Sydney.
The partnership supports the goals of improving air services such as aeromedical, passenger, cargo, and firefighting flights, particularly benefiting Australians in rural areas.
AMSL Aero will use hydrogen to extend the range of its Vertiia aircraft from 300 kilometers on electric batteries to 1000 kilometers using hydrogen fuel cells. This will make Vertiia the longest-range passenger-capable VTOL aircraft in the world.
“Bankstown Airport will be the launching pad for the future of Australian aviation, as the nation transitions towards net zero," said Daniel Jarosch, CEO of AMG.
"We are proud to partner with AMSL Aero in flying towards a greener future for essential air services, such as medical transfers, firefighting, and flight training.”
Australia’s potential to lead in the evolution of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) aircraft, which will bring sustainability to air travel and other sectors, from faster freight deliveries and city commutes to better connectivity for people in regional and rural areas.
AMSL Aero is currently testing the powertrain for Vertiia on the ground using hydrogen at its main operations at Bankstown Airport. The company plans to integrate the fuel into the aircraft and conduct test flights using hydrogen in 2025, with commercial flights expected to begin in 2027.
“With AMSL Aero and Bankstown Airport leading the charge in adopting hydrogen as aviation fuel, Australia is poised to play a key role in the global transition towards sustainable aviation,” Max York, CEO of AMSL Aero, said.
The Commonwealth Government’s Aviation Green Paper, released in 2023, found that Australia is positioning itself to be a leader in the uptake and development of emerging aviation technologies, such as hydrogen and electric-powered aircraft.
In late 2023, AMSL Aero received $5.43 million under the Australian Renewable Energy Agency’s (ARENA) Advancing Renewables Program. The project follows AMSL’s development of an electric prototype of the aircraft.
