Unither flies hydrogen-electric helicopter circuit in Québec test

The Robinson R44 completed a full piloted airport circuit as Project Proticity moves toward larger hydrogen-electric rotorcraft development.

Canadian Advanced Air Mobility (CAAM) has recognised Unither Bioélectronique (UB) after the company carried out what it describes as the world’s first piloted hydrogen-electric helicopter traffic-circuit flight.

The flight took place on 10 April at Roland-Désourdy Airport in Bromont, Québec, using a modified Robinson R44 powered by a hydrogen-electric PEM fuel-cell-battery architecture fuelled with locally produced green hydrogen.

Flown by UB test pilot Ric Webb under an experimental flight permit, the sortie expanded testing beyond hover demonstrations into a complete airport traffic circuit profile including take-off, climb, pattern flight, approach and landing.

The test forms part of Project Proticity, a collaboration between Unither Bioélectronique and Robinson Helicopter Company announced in 2024 to develop zero-emission rotorcraft based on Robinson’s R44 and R66 helicopter platforms.

“This milestone shows that piloted hydrogen-electric vertical flight can move from theory to repeatable, safe, real-world testing,” says Mikaël Cardinal, vice president, programme management & business development, organ delivery systems at Unither Bioélectronique. For Unither, the goal is clear: build the aircraft and aerial logistics systems needed to help deliver manufactured organ alternatives to patients in need, while creating a scalable zero-emission transportation network.”

Unither says the programme is aligned with future liquid hydrogen systems intended to support greater range and payload capability for healthcare, emergency response and regional logistics operations.

The company previously completed a series of hydrogen-powered helicopter milestones in March 2025, including what it described as the world’s first piloted hydrogen-powered helicopter flight demonstration.

Future testing will focus on transferring the propulsion architecture to the larger Robinson R66 platform while continuing engagement with Transport Canada Civil Aviation and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on certification pathways.