Looking back, looking forward: A glimpse of our successful year

With the festive season in full swing, we are pleased to report another successful year at Deutsche Aircraft. In this edition of our newsletter, we celebrate our most significant achievements from the final quarter of 2024.

Transformation for success

To close out the year, we are excited to announce that Nico Neumann has been appointed Co-CEO of Deutsche Aircraft. This transitional role will guide him from his current position as COO to CEO. Nico will work alongside current CEO Dave Jackson during this transition, with the plan for Nico to take over as CEO by the end of Q2 2025. Dave will continue to support the team as CEO of the DA Group entity.

Building the future of regional aviation

We announced our collaboration with Weerts Group for the continued development and construction of our Final  Assembly Line (FAL) at Leipzig/Halle Airport. This project marks a significant milestone in the industrialisation of our D328eco aircraft. The carbon-neutral facility will operate in a fully digital environment, incorporating cutting-edge technology and energy-efficient manufacturing processes. In addition, automated systems will be implemented to support a greener production process and minimise our environmental footprint. The FAL is expected to be completed in Q4 2025.  ‍

Successful flight campaign using 100% synthetic zero-aromatics fuel

In a groundbreaking development for climate-friendly technology, the D328 UpLift research aircraft achieved a significant milestone in October with its first test flight powered entirely by 100% zero-aromatics synthetic fuel. This fuel, provided by our partner Sasol, is chemically identical to Power-to-Liquid (PtL) fuel, which has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 95%.

In November, we completed a series of five test flights in collaboration with Pratt & Whitney Canada, with a focus on measuring emissions and contrail formation. These flights were part of the CLIM0ART campaign, during which DLR’s Falcon 20E flew in formation with UpLift to collect data on emissions and contrails directly in flight. The insights gained from this campaign are expected to inform policy decisions and aid the expansion of Power-to-Liquid fuels to comply with the ReFuelEU Aviation mandate by 2030.

Key suppliers on board

As we near the completion of onboarding key suppliers for the D328eco, we announced that Honeywell will provide its Primus HF-1050 high-frequency (HF) radio system for our 40-seater turboprop. The HF-1050 is designed to deliver reliable voice communications, enhancing performance for operators worldwide.

Top-tier talent on board

We have strengthened our global sales team with the appointment of two new Sales Directors, Reinhard Schwaiger and Carlos Castro. Their extensive experience will be crucial in expanding our market reach and increasing sales of our D328eco. Furthermore, we achieved our HR objective for 2024, expanding our team to 553 aviation specialists, which positions us well for continued growth.

Ready to meet regional demands around the globe

During this quarter, #TeamDA attended important aviation conferences in Latin America, North America and the Asia Pacific. These included the ALTA AGM & Airline Leaders Forum in Nassau, the ATAC Conference in Vancouver and the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai. By participating in these events, our team gained valuable insights into the latest trends in regional connectivity, connected with partners and explored new opportunities for collaboration.

Gearing up for 2025

As we look ahead to 2025, we anticipate another year filled with milestones. After four years of dedication and development, we will bring our digital ideas to life with the roll-out of the D328eco test aircraft (TAC 1) in Q2 and the first test flight in Q4. In addition, we will inaugurate our Final Assembly Line at Leipzig/Halle Airport and showcase our next-generation D328eco with the full cabin and cockpit at the prestigious Paris Airshow.

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for your support this year. Stay tuned for the next chapter of our turboprop revolution!

Wishing you a joyful holiday season! May this time bring happiness and memorable moments with loved ones.

Best wishes,

Dave Jackson

CEO, Deutsche Aircraft