FutureFlight
Mitsubishi and Alaska Air Back ZeroAvia's Plans for Hydrogen Airliners
The Japanese group's maintenance, repair, and overhaul arm will install conversion kits based on ZeroAvia's hydrogen fuel cell powertrain, which will also be used for Alaska Air's Dash 8 fleet of twin-turboprops.
ZeroAvia
ZeroAvia is working to convert 19-seat aircraft like the Dornier 228 twin turboprop to hydrogen power, and now Mitsubishi will support plans to convert larger CRJ regional jets. (Photo: ZeroAvia)

Mitsubishi is teaming with ZeroAvia to convert regional airliners, including the CRJ, to hydrogen propulsion. The Japanese group’s maintenance, repair, and overhaul subsidiary, MHI RJ Aviation Group (MHIRJ), will seek a supplemental type certificate (STC) to replace the GE Aviation CF-34 turbofans on the 50- to 100-seat twinjets with the hydrogen-electric powertrain that ZeroAvia is developing for multiple applications.

One day after ZeroAvia announced the partnership, the Alaska Air Group said it will support efforts to convert up to 50 of its 76-seat Dash 8 Q400 twin-turboprops to hydrogen. The U.S. airline is also investing in the California-based start-up.