The Oregon Department of Aviation (ODAV) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Cellen H2, Inc. (Cellen) to explore the use of hydrogen fuel cell-powered Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) in the National Airspace System for commercial and civil operations across Oregon.
The agreement outlines a collaborative effort to assess and advance the operational feasibility of hydrogen-powered UAS platforms to support business-to-business logistics, critical medical deliveries, wide-area mapping and surveying, and search and rescue missions—particularly in rural and geographically diverse regions of the state, said the agency in a press release.
“Oregon’s landscape and distance between communities require innovative approaches to connectivity and service delivery,” said Kenji Sugahara, Director of the Oregon Department of Aviation. “This partnership allows us to evaluate how hydrogen-powered aircraft systems can support long-range missions safely, efficiently, and with zero emissions.”
Cellen is a US-based aerospace company specializing in design and manufacture of hydrogen fuel cell-powered unmanned aircraft systems designed for extended endurance operations. Its platforms are capable of flights exceeding two hours while carrying payloads up to 10 pounds. The systems are designed to be NDAA compliant, produce low vibration and noise, and operate with no in-flight emissions using modular hydrogen refueling technology.
“Working with the Oregon Department of Aviation to explore real-world hydrogen-powered UAS missions is an important step in proving what this technology can do for communities,” said Roberto Yelin, CEO and Co-Founder, Cellen. “With H2-6, our goal is to enable operators to fly farther, for longer, and carry more capable payloads in support of critical services—while helping states like Oregon move toward more sustainable aviation.”
The collaboration will allow ODAV and Cellen H2 to evaluate how these capabilities could support Oregon’s commercial operators, emergency response agencies, and industry partners seeking long-range, sustainable UAS solutions.
Under the MOU, ODAV and Cellen H2 will work together on research, testing, and evaluation of hydrogen-powered BVLOS UAS platforms; joint field demonstrations and flight tests; engagement with Oregon communities and industry stakeholders; and statewide UAS strategy planning and workforce pipeline development
For more information
https://www.oregon.gov/aviation/pages/default.aspx
(Image: Oregon Department of Aviation)