Regulatory Milestone: AALTO received Design Organisation Approval (DOA) from the UK Civil Aviation Authority, a first for High Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS) in the UK.

Zephyr Aircraft: The approval is a step towards Type Certification for the Zephyr Z8 aircraft, aiming for global entry into service by 2026.

Investment and Development: This follows a $100 million investment by a Japanese consortium and preparations for a flight program in Kenya.

Technological Impact: Zephyr, a solar-powered HAPS, holds a flight-time record of over 64 days and offers applications like 5G connectivity and earth observation.

July 2024