Universal Hydrogen to convert 20 regional aircraft for Avmax

Canada’s Avmax Aircraft Leasing Inc has made a firm order with US company Universal Hydrogen Co to convert 20 regional aircraft to operate on green hydrogen, the two said this week.

Avmax will be able to choose between Universal Hydrogen’s ATR 72-600 and Dash 8-300 conversion kits.

In addition, Universal Hydrogen will supply hydrogen fuel to power both Avmax’s leased and owned fleets, while Avmax could become a maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) partner to Universal Hydrogen.

“This order is an important step for Canada’s sizable regional aviation market, which is home to the largest turboprop fleet in the world with nearly 300 Dash-8s and 50 ATRs servicing over 120 airports,” said Universal Hydrogen co-founder and chief executive Paul Eremenko.

Universal Hydrogen says it focuses on regional and narrowbody planes as the near-term and most meaningful decarbonisation opportunities. The company is working to certify a powertrain conversion kit for retrofitting existing regional aircraft to use hydrogen.

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