News
The approval puts the solar-powered High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) one step closer to commercial launch, currently targeted for 2026
Today, US-based HAPS specialist AALTO has announced that it has received Design Organisation Approval (DOA) from the UK Civil Aviation Authority for its solar-powered HAPS, Zephyr.
The approval confirms that “AALTO is an organisation with capabilities to design aircraft to the highest standards”.
The announcement notably makes AALTO the first HAPS company in the UK to receive DOA.
“This is a significant milestone for the industrial and commercial roadmap of Zephyr. Following a landmark investment in our business and the beginning of our comprehensive flight season, this approval underscores the regulatory confidence in HAPS as we demonstrate the potential of providing cutting-edge services from the stratosphere,” said Samer Halawi, Chief Executive Officer of AALTO. “The UK Civil Aviation Authority continues to show its global leadership as an enabler of sustainable technology such as Zephyr, which remains at the forefront of solar-powered innovation.”
AALTO is no stranger to meeting the aviation industry’s strict regulatory requirements. Until it was spun was spun off at the start of last year, AALTO was a division of aviation giant Airbus, with the Zephyr Project itself being developed since 2001.
The Zephyr HAPS itself is essentially a large solar-powered stratospheric glider that can be equipped with mobile network technology, allowing connectivity, including 5G, to be rapidly delivered to remote locations. In addition to telecommunications equipment, it can also carry other payloads, including imaging technology, allowing “a range of monitoring, tracking, sensing, and detection” capabilities.
The latest Zephyr model, Z8, can fly for 64 continuous days using purely solar power and rechargeable batteries, with AALTO saying they hope to expand this limit to 200 days in future.
Achieving DOA represents a vital stepping stone towards Type Classification for the Zephyr glider, a major qualification that confirms the aircraft’s design is airworthy and legal to fly commercially.
“As we focus on securing a Type Certification for Zephyr, we look forward to working closely with the UK Civil Aviation Authority over the coming months. With their ongoing support, I am confident we will continue to break new ground in the regulation of Zephyr and HAPS technology,” said AALTO’s CTO Pierre-Antoine Aubourg.
The company is aiming for a global commercial launch in 2026.
This news is the second significant milestone AALTO has marked this summer, with the company having received $100 million in funding from NTT DOCOMO and Space Compass last once.
“This investment comes as AALTO moves into its next phase of development. This includes launching several customer missions over the coming year, establishing launch and landing sites for Zephyr, and advancing our certification process,” said Halawi. “We are excited to forge a new frontier in sustainable connectivity and earth observation from the stratosphere, while generating significant value for all our stakeholders.”
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