Charles Alcock is managing editor of the AIN Media Group, having rejoined the company in 2019. He has been an aviation journalist since 1986, and previously worked for AIN from 1990 to 2017, most recently as editor-in-chief. His main focus is on covering new aviation technology and business models, as well as international news.
Having been raised in the London area, Alcock studied at the University of Manchester in the UK and earned an honors degree in Politics and Modern History. He speaks English and French, and some German.

Managing Editor

Bombardier manufactures a variety of business aircraft models, provides engineering, and aircraft maintenance services.

Charles Alcock

ZeroAvia says it now holds 45 patents covering technology for the hydrogen-electric powertrains it intends to use to convert existing regional airliners. On July 17, the company reported it has more than 200 patent applications being processed by authorities in the U.S. and Europe.
One of the more prominent patents is No. 12,341,225 issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. This covered an integrated 2-megawatt-class hydrogen-electric ZA2000 engine that ZeroAvia is working to install on ATR and Dash 8 aircraft, seating between 40 and 80 passengers.
The UK’s patent office has granted patent GB2614450 covering coatings for the aluminum bipolar plates used for the company’s high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell systems. ZeroAvia said this technology is significant in its efforts to scale up the engines to support larger aircraft.
According to ZeroAvia, which has operations in both the U.S. and the UK, its patent portfolio covers multiple key subsystems for the hydrogen-electric powertrains themselves and the processes for integrating them with aircraft. Other patents cover innovations including cryogenic management systems, thermal management for fuel cell systems, fuel cell catalysts using platinum nanoparticles, and a refueling system using a thermoelectric generator to leverage heat from the process that can be used for other aircraft systems.
“Recent patents filed and granted around hydrogen aviation give a window into an accelerating field of innovation,” said ZeroAvia’s founder and CEO, Val Miftakhov. “As we see the large airframe manufacturers compete on technologies for hydrogen aircraft, there is a big opportunity for companies pioneering hydrogen propulsion systems.”

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ZeroAvia Builds Patent Portfolio for Hydrogen-electric-powered Airliners 

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ZeroAvia expects to secure almost 250 patents for the hydrogen-electric propulsion systems it will install in existing ATR and Dash 8 regional airliners.

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Dash 8 Series

ZeroAvia

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