Aircraft

EU's environmentally friendly aircraft project to develop alternative power systems

A 1h flight of a fuel cell-powered, electrically propelled two-seat aircraft by the fourth quarter of 2009 is one of the goals of a three-year, €4.5 million ($5.93 million) European Union research project.

Funded under the EU's sixth framework programme, the environ­mentally-friendly inter-city aircraft powered by fuel cells (Enfica-FC) project seeks to define new more-electric aircraft systems such as auxiliary power units, emergency electrical supplies, landing gear actuators and de-icing systems examine safety, certification and maintenance concepts evaluate life-cycle costs and study the feasibility and environmental impact of an all-electric, 10- to 15-seat commuter aircraft.

Enfica-FC's test flight is expected to use an existing two-seat aircraft modified with an electrical flight-control system, fuel cell, brushless electric motors and power electronics. Of the project's €4.5 million funding, €2.9 million will come from the European Commission.

The project is being co-ordinated by Italy's Politecnico di Torino's department of aerospace engineering, and involves 11 partner organisations including Israel Aerospace Industries, UK fuel cell company Intelligent Energy, Brno University of Technology, Czech aircraft designer Evektor, and UK hydrogen production company Air Products.