Ground Operations of LIquid hydrogen AircrafT

ongoing

Developing aircraft using hydrogen is seen as a major lever to reach net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050 and to secure the long-term sustainability of air travel. In order to enable a widespread development of hydrogen aviation, it is essential for airport operators that a future regulatory framework is implemented for the handling of large quantities of hydrogen at airports and that there is a clear understanding of how hydrogen-powered aircraft will be integrated into airport operations and the required changes to current aircraft ground handling operations are known. In parallel to this, and for industrial partners, it is also necessary to develop new ground-handling equipment for hydrogen aircraft, and more specifically liquid hydrogen refuelling equipment that will enable safe and efficient turn-around operations. GOLIAT will demonstrate liquid hydrogen aircraft ground operations at three different types of European airports using a small hydrogen operated aircraft allowing the necessary procedures to be developed. It will also, through two demonstrators, showcase several critical technologies needed for future certified high-performance liquid hydrogen refuelling. In parallel, GOLIAT will answer key questions that will lay the foundations for the standardisation and certification framework of future safe hydrogen operations. Indeed, a key output of the project will be the gap analysis of certification rules and requirements for ground operations and equipment. Finally, GOLIAT will also assess the sizing and economics of hydrogen value chains for airports, critical for the competitive development of hydrogen powered aviation. To achieve its goals, GOLIAT reunites technology providers (aircraft manufacturers, liquid hydrogen suppliers, logistics experts, cryogenic component manufacturers and standardisation experts) and academia as well as several European airport operators all of whom will be supported by EASA.