Canadian Advanced Air Mobility Completes First Piloted Hydrogen-Powered Helicopter Flight

Canadian Advanced Air Mobility Completes First Piloted Hydrogen-Powered Helicopter FlightThis the first flight demonstration of a piloted hydrogen-powered helicopter globally and Canada’s first piloted hydrogen-powered flight.Canadian Advanced Air Mobility (CAAM) National Board member Unither Bioélectronique has completed the world’s first flight demonstration of a piloted hydrogen-powered helicopter.The flight took place at Roland-Désourdy Airport in Bromont, Québec on March 27, 2025.

This the first flight demonstration of a piloted hydrogen-powered helicopter globally and Canada’s first piloted hydrogen-powered flight.The successful three-minute, 16-second flight validated the capabilities of a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) hydrogen fuel cell system to support the power demands of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) flight. Mikaël Cardinal, vice president, program management & business development, organ delivery systems for Unither Bioélectronique, said:Our first test flight successfully demonstrated the hover and maneuver capabilities of our innovative hydrogen powertrain,Cardinal added,Our next phase of development will focus on integrating a liquid hydrogen storage system, which we believe is an essential technology for enabling our extended-range missions to deliver manufactured organ alternatives to patients in need,The flight is part of Project Proticity, a joint initiative between Unither Bioélectronique and Robinson Helicopter Company focused on accelerating zero-emission aviation through the use of hybrid hydrogen-electric propulsion systems.

The successful demonstration—performed by test pilot Ric Webb under an experimental flight permit from Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA)—utilized an experimental Robinson R44 Raven II equipped with a dual PEM fuel cell/battery hybrid powertrain, with approximately 90% of the flight’s energy coming from hydrogen fuel cells. JR Hammond, executive director of CAAM, said:This historic achievement proves that clean aviation isn’t a distant dream—it’s a present-day reality taking flight right here in Canada,Hammond continued, Unither’s success is a shining example of the innovation happening across our ecosystem and demonstrates how Canadian leadership is shaping the global future of zero-emission air mobility.READ the latest news shaping the hydrogen market at Hydrogen CentralCanadian Advanced Air Mobility Completes First Piloted Hydrogen-Powered Helicopter Flight, sourceThe post Canadian Advanced Air Mobility Completes First Piloted Hydrogen-Powered Helicopter Flight appeared first on Hydrogen Central.

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