Beyond Aero Reaches TRL6 for Hydrogen-Electric Propulsion

Toulouse-based startup Beyond Aero has officially reached Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL6) for its hydrogen-electric propulsion system—a significant step toward commercial deployment. The system, developed over an 18-month period, has been fully tested at scale within Beyond Aero’s new integrated powertrain facility. This milestone marks a shift from lab-based testing to industrial-grade readiness, a prerequisite for certification and eventual aircraft integration.

The company's propulsion unit, which powers the BYA-1 hydrogen-electric aircraft, has now been validated using data from both ground and flight-equivalent conditions. The BYA-1 is a six-seat business jet with a targeted range of 800 nautical miles—five times the reach of current battery-electric aircraft in its class. With more than $50 million in funding and over $1 billion in letters of intent, Beyond Aero is now executing on years of R&D with the goal of certification and market entry.

Contributions from multiple aerospace players supported the propulsion system’s path to TRL6. EKPO Fuel Cell Technologies supplied its NM20 platform, which delivers 400 kilowatts of power and has shown a notable efficiency increase—from 48% to 57%—at rated performance. FEV Aerospace co-engineered the fuel cell system with a focus on airworthiness and compliance. Additional partners include BrightLoop Converters for DC-DC systems, Dassault Systèmes for digital twin development, and AVL for test infrastructure support. Airbus Protect also advised on certification-oriented safety documentation.

New Test Facility and IP Acquisition Strengthen Certification Path

Beyond Aero’s newly commissioned hydrogen-electric propulsion lab in Toulouse is now among the top three most capable test environments for hydrogen aviation worldwide. Designed for industrial-level testing, the facility houses three representative channels that can accommodate multiple fuel cell configurations, collectively providing up to 1,200 kilowatts of testing capacity. The site includes on-site hydrogen storage and distribution at 700 bar, using Type IV tanks to ensure compliance with emerging safety and scalability requirements.

Further accelerating its technical capabilities, Beyond Aero acquired the complete intellectual property portfolio from Universal Hydrogen. This includes 100% of the company’s patents, flight data, turbocompressor technology, digital system assets, and key personnel—effectively absorbing over $90 million in prior investment. The move gives Beyond Aero access to validated design architectures and performance data, streamlining the path toward system certification and integration into operational aircraft.

European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Program Manager Gianluca Mele noted, "With this pre-application contract, EASA establishes an early and structured engagement with Beyond Aero on hydrogen propulsion technology. Our objective is to provide clarity on the applicable regulatory framework, address novel safety considerations, and ensure that certification activities progress in a consistent, structured and transparent manner. This proactive approach reflects EASA’s commitment to supporting innovation while maintaining the highest levels of safety and environmental protection in aviation."

The startup has already initiated pre-application engagement with EASA, aligning its development activities with the CS-23 certification framework. This early regulatory involvement is essential for navigating the unique safety considerations tied to hydrogen propulsion.