The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has launched a Hydrogen Challenge for the aviation industry to leverage its potential as a zero-carbon emission aviation fuel.
With the sector yet to develop a comprehensive understanding of hydrogen’s risks to aviation safety and the right pathway to certification, the Hydrogen Challenge will use a Regulatory Sandbox approach. This will help to ensure regulation is fit for purpose and can cut challenges that are associated with the introduction of hydrogen as a fuel.
The challenge will strive to facilitate collaboration with industry and academia, allowing an improved understanding of hydrogen-related risks in aviation to be built, gaps in policies to be identified, and recommendations to develop net zero policies proposed. This will allow for increased regulatory readiness, a reduced risk of failure and improved collaboration with the UK CAA itself.
The Hydrogen Challenge has been funded with almost £940,000 from the Regulator’s Pioneer Fund, which is overseen by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. It will now run until 28 February 2025.
