Hydrogen test milestone puts AMSL closer to Vertiia flights

Bankstown and Wellington fuel cell work has helped to verify Vertiia’s powertrain while also feeding electricity into the airport grid.

Australian aircraft designer AMSL Aero has completed a year of hydrogen fuel cell testing at Bankstown Airport as it prepares for emission-free flight trials within the next 12 months.

Testing focused on a 100kW hydrogen fuel cell test bench designed to emulate the hybrid-electric powertrain of AMSL’s eVTOL aircraft, Vertiia, which achieved its first free flights in late 2024.

Since mid-2024, AMSL has used more than 200kg of hydrogen, enough to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool at atmospheric pressure, to validate its technology.

Chairman Chris Smallhorn says the work has shown hydrogen’s potential in aviation: “In just one year, our world-class engineering team has successfully demonstrated the practical applications of hydrogen in aviation. Our collaboration with Bankstown Airport is instrumental in our ongoing mission to offer longer-distance flights that cut both the cost and carbon footprint of travel across Australia and elsewhere.”

Hydrogen lead Simon Coburn says the bench also powered the airport: “Our fuel cell test bench has not only validated our aircraft's powertrain but has also contributed to the airport's energy needs.” The setup exported 30kW of electricity into the grid for three weeks, reducing power bills by around 1.8MWh.

AMSL has now deployed the bench to Wellington Aerodrome for Vertiia recharging between test flights.

Aeria Management Group CEO Tom Smith praised AMSL’s work: “Bankstown Airport is leading the way in the national flight path towards net-zero aviation. Thanks to AMSL Aero, Bankstown Airport became the first airport in Australia to introduce hydrogen as aviation fuel.”

Vertiia is designed to fly 1000km using hydrogen, with early orders from general aviation operators including Bankstown-based Aviation Logistics. AMSL is one of the few eVTOL developers to have secured cash deposits for its aircraft.