The Federal Government has awarded a $3 million grant to AMSL Aero for the development of hydrogen-electric power for use in regional transport.
Bankstown-based AMSL Aero announced the funding yesterday, which is part of the two-year Liquid Hydrogen Powered Aircraft for Regional and Remote Australia project, worth $7.56 million in total.
The project is delivered through the Department of Industry Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) Program.
“This funding points to the Australian Government’s support for our mission to revolutionise air mobility for regional and remote Australia," said AMSL CEO Dr Adriano Di Pietro.
"The project objectives reflect our cooperative leadership across the sector and community to decarbonise aviation.”
AMSL Aero will collaborate with liquid hydrogen company Fabrum, Monash University, and Deakin University to research the technical, regulatory, and safety challenges of hydrogen-powered eVTOLs.
The project will explore safe liquid hydrogen refuelling systems, advanced fuel measurement and power distribution during various stages of flight of AMSL's Vertiia regional eVTOL.
The aim is to develop national regulations and demonstrating refueling procedures integrated with aircraft systems.
At the time of writing, Vertiia is still in development, but the company is targeting civil certification sometime in the 2029-30 financial year, with a military version possible earlier than that.