Wessling, 19 February 2024 – Dr. Anna Christmann, the Coordinator for Aerospace Policy of the German Federal Government, recently visited the Deutsche Aircraft headquarters in Oberpfaffenhofen to monitor the progress of the transformation of the D328® UpLift into a flying test laboratory. As a key OEM partner, Deutsche Aircraft is currently undertaking the conversion of a former passenger aircraft into a flying test bed. The Federal Government is an active advocate of sustainable aviation and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to minimise the environmental impact of air travel.

Green light for the CAvIA LuFo project

On 1 January 2024, the "CAvIA" federal aviation research programme was launched, supported by federal funding of around 1.42 million Euros. As the joint leader of this project, Deutsche Aircraft is investigating flight operations with just one pilot, as well as energy-optimised trajectories. The aim of the project is to make aviation more environmentally friendly through the use of intelligent avionics.

The journey to ILA Berlin 2024 begins

The conversion of the D328® UpLift by Deutsche Aircraft is a crucial step towards this goal. The D328® UpLift will be equipped with state-of-the-art avionics systems and temporarily modified engines that are capable of running on sustainable fuels, aiming for an experimental CO₂ emission measurement campaign. The flying test bed will make its debut in June 2024 at ILA Berlin, the leading aerospace trade fair in Germany and Europe.

"The UpLift flying test laboratory is a key industrial policy project for climate-friendly flying and Germany's sustainable development," said Dr. Anna Christmann,  the Coordinator for Aerospace Policy of the German Federal Government, during her visit. "I am delighted that the project operated by DLR with its technical expertise, is making progress with the support of Deutsche Aircraft. It is crucial that the laboratory is made available to all our industrial partners. This is an important strategic step towards testing measures for climate-neutral flying under real conditions."

"The development of innovative and environmentally friendly aircraft solutions, such as our new D328eco, is of key importance,” says Dave Jackson, CEO of Deutsche Aircraft. “As an OEM, we are also proud to carry out the conversion of the D328® UpLift into a flying research laboratory in our hangar. This lays the foundation for technological advancements in aviation and paves the way for eco-friendly flights." Jackson also expressed gratitude to the German Federal Government and German Aerospace Center, as well as acknowledging the support of industry partners.

The successful conversion of the D328® UpLift flight lab and launch of the CAvIA project are significant milestones in the development of sustainable aviation technologies that will enable nearly carbon-neutral flights. Deutsche Aircraft is a proud partner in this collaboration and looks forward to further cooperation with the German government and other stakeholders in creating a more sustainable future for air travel.