The MAHEPA project is developing the enabling propulsion technology for future small and regional passenger airplanes, capable of exploiting the existing small local airports to provide micro-feeder service to larger hubs and eliminating gaseous emission and noise impact on surrounding communities. Within the project, new modular drivetrain components are designed and manufactured to power two hybrid-electric airplanes scheduled to fly in 2020. The first will be equipped with a hybrid-electric powertrain utilizing an internal combustion engine, possibly running on alternative fuels. The second will be a fuel-cell (FC) electric aircraft, showcasing the possibilities for zero-emission, long-distance flight. These achievements will play a key role in enabling future economical and environmentally sustainable air travel.

Flight testing of developed aircraft will provide useful data about benefits and challenges of hybrid-electric propulsion in aviation, paving the way towards the year 2050 emission reduction scenarios. The project is boosting research in the field of low-emission propulsion technology to open up the potentiality for series production of greener airplanes, in order to support European environmental goals in aviation. Along with powertrain development, integration and testing, other major MAHEPA results include innovative aircraft modelling and design, exploiting laboratory and flight test data, as well as in-depth studies on regulatory implications, airport infrastructure requirements, airspace procedural practices, operational safety, operating costs and emission models.

This complex effort will result in a unique outlook on the hybrid-electric aviation potential for regulators, aviation industry, operators and investors.

DAER-PoliMI plays a key role in several Work Packages, ranging from powertrain modelling and simulation; test data analysis; conceptual and preliminary aircraft design; cost, performance and environmental impact analysis; design of airport infrastructures; analysis of flight operations and procedures; strategy definition for fleet switching and hybrid-electric commercial aviation implementation.