A refined concept for their light jet has been revealed by Beyond Aero. The new concept includes important engineering advancements, which have been validated by industry experts.

Adding these refinements is an excellent step forward to reaching certification and commercialization, it emphasizes the position of Beyond Aero as leading manufacturers, who are currently aiming to deliver the first certified hydrogen-electric light jet by 2030.

The BYA-1 is the first electric light jet to be designed for hydrogen propulsion which features a clean-sheet architecture optimized for gaseous hydrogen. It was at Le Bourget in June 2023 that the initial concept was first introduced, and since then, Beyond Aero has worked to derisk hydrogen powerplan and accelerate both certification and industrialization.

Key design enhancements that Beyond Aero has included are a battery-free hydrogen fuel cell system with built-in redundancy, optimized gaseous hydrogen tank placement for enhanced safety, and an advanced thermal management system for electric ducted fans.

·        Battery-free hydrogen fuel cell system with built-in redundancy is a modular architecture which includes two electric engines that are powered by independent power plant channels. This equipment enhances failure resilience, along with scalability, whilst it also exceeds industry safety standards. Plus, the fuel cell stack capacity has seen an increase to 2.4MW.

·        The optimized gaseous hydrogen tank involves 700-bar fuel tanks being integrated above the wing box structure to improve crashworthiness. This design aligns with aerospace safety protocols and it also minimizes risk, by eliminating high-pressure fuel lines within the pressurized cabin.

·        Advanced thermal management system for electric ducted fans are important because integrated electric ducted fans (EDF) optimize both performance and propulsion efficiency, even under extreme conditions. The use of a custom-designed FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control) means that precise performance across all flight phases is possible. This system will mark a new benchmark in electric propulsion and it will also become certified under a TC Engine framework.

Implementing these engineering decisions provides significantly lower maintenance and operational costs. The BYA-1 light jet includes a simplified all-electric power train with 90% fewer moving parts, eliminating the need to use a high-temperature turbine, whilst also proposing a modular engine swap system for streamlined overhaul. Using this design effectively reduces maintenance complexity and it reduces operational costs by around 55%, whilst making sure higher reliability is maintained for business jet operators.

Beyond Aero has set new standards for sustainable aviation, as they cater to a market which has a high demand for low-carbon alternatives. They are working with EASA, with a focus on regulatory approvals, to ensure that the company’s aircrafts are meeting strict standards around safety and certification. In April 2024, Beyond Aero submitted their Design Organisation Approval (DOA) application and since then have been focusing on progressing through EASA’s Pre-Application Services. Now, Beyond Aero is creating a certification framework for hydrogen-powered aircrafts.

Walter Filho, Head of Certification commented, “Beyond Aero is setting the precedent for hydrogen-electric certification. Working closely with EASA, we are shaping regulatory pathways that will enable the safe and efficient adoption of hydrogen propulsion in aviation.”

An expert advisory team has been put together by Beyond Aero, with the intention of accelerating certification and validating the program’s feasibility. The advisory committee is made up of top executives and engineers, all of which are from leading aerospace firms and aviation stakeholders. Recently this committee confirmed the technical viability of the refined aircraft and also confirmed the aircraft’s readiness for certification and market adoption.

Former CEO, EADS Socata, ATR, Daher, NexterWith, Stéphane Mayer, commented, “With its nice look, BYA-I a great mix of traditional design and innovation, perfect for the European market.”

Erik Carlson, Aerospace Consultant, Former Technical Director, Stress & Structural Design, HondaJet stated, “Significantly more mature than the previous version, a lot of good work has been done by an experienced and qualified team. They have evaluated multiple configurations and unique constraints to produce a beautiful aircraft.”

Dominique Roland, Aerospace Consultant, Former Head of General Aviation, EASA “An aircraft that has proven to be a beautiful product, centered on safety and certification.”