Deutsche Aircraft NEWS

In 2023, Deutsche Aircraft accomplished many important milestones as we continue to set new benchmarks in regional aviation and elevate the aviation industry to new heights with our D328eco™. Let’s take a look back at how this year has shaped us.

Recognition and Resonance: Echoes of Success

This year, we have partnered with best-in-class suppliers to secure over 90% of our supply chain contracts.

We announced our first launch customer, Private Wings, and signed an LOI for the delivery of five D328eco aircraft, which will be a valuable addition to their existing fleet of D328® jets and turboprops.

Recently, we signed another LOI to deliver up to four new D328eco aircraft to an undisclosed customer to replace its ageing fleet of regional turboprops.

As we continue to expand digitally, our online presence has taken off, with over 20,000 followers now joining us on our journey. We also launched our Mandarin landing page and official WeChat account in China.

Thriving Beyond Limits: A Blueprint for Unprecedented Growth

In collaboration with representatives from Leipzig/Halle Airport, the German government and the Free State of Saxony, we broke ground at our Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Leipzig. Designed to be 100% CO2 neutral, the FAL will have a production capacity of forty-eight D328eco aircraft per year.

We made our debut at the Paris Air Show as an OEM, where we unveiled our modern, spacious cabin and future-proof cockpit with brand-new flight deck. During the event, we announced significant supplier collaborations with thyssenkrupp Aerospace, NORDAM, Liebherr, and Sasol ecoFT that will further the development of our D328eco.

In addition, we attended Aero Asia 2023 in Zhuhai, where we had the opportunity to promote the D328eco and the D328® fleet to the Chinese market.

We commenced our integration test campaign with a virtual first flight in our state-of-the-art engineering simulator, developed in partnership with Reiser Simulation Training and Garmin, the supplier of the flight deck. This new engineering simulator will provide further insights into the flight characteristics of our 40-seater turboprop and pave the way for an efficient and environmentally friendly test campaign.

In cooperation with business partners, we also hosted the 2nd AIRCRAFT Supplier Summit in Leipzig. During the conference, we recognised some of our top-performing suppliers for their contribution to our D328eco and D328® programmes at the Deutsche Aircraft Supplier Awards.

Driven by a collaboration and innovation, we celebrated our three-year anniversary as an established OEM in 2023. We have successfully evolved into a team of more than 500 aviation experts from over 35 nations around the globe and have moved into a new building at our headquarters at Oberpfaffenhofen Airport this year.

Unveiling Tomorrow: Charting New Horizons

To provide further versatility for our D328eco, we obtained EASA certification for the In-Flight Operable Door (IFOD) for our D328® that will open up multi-mission possibilities.

By connecting with like-minded partners and staying committed to new ideas, we are advancing promising technology to improve sustainability standards for the aviation industry.

With the Uplift project, we’re using the D328® as a flying test bed for alternative propulsion technologies in collaboration with the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the German government and key associates within the aviation industry.

We have also completed wind tunnel testing for the D328ALPHA as we develop future propulsion systems with our partners as part of the LuFo project.

In addition, we strengthened our collaboration with Energi i Nord to boost SAF production in Northern Norway and commissioned a scientific study carried out by Ludwig-Bölkow-Systemtechnik (LBST) on the performance of Power-to-Liquids and Liquefied Hydrogen as alternative aviation fuels.

We would like to thank our clients, suppliers, investors and team members who made 2023 a meaningful and successful year for Deutsche Aircraft. We wish everyone a joyful and prosperous holiday season and a happy new year.

Now it’s time to relax, recharge and get ready to kick-start 2024: Are you ready to get on board? Are you ready for the next one?

As we approach the end of 2023, I want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible accomplishments we have achieved at Deutsche Aircraft this year. Together, we have made significant strides towards our common goal of revolutionising the aviation industry and I am pleased to share some of the key highlights from this last quarter:

Team Expansion: We have successfully reached our 2023 target of approximately 540+ committed aviation enthusiasts at Deutsche Aircraft. Our ability to attract top talent from the aerospace and aviation sectors worldwide is a testament to our vision and dedication.

AIRCRAFT Supplier Summit 2023: In collaboration with our business partner, the Berlin Institute Supply Chain Management, we hosted the 2nd AIRCRAFT Supplier Summit in Leipzig. This year’s summit brought together key suppliers and our team to discuss the industry's technological transformation and sustainable approaches for the next generation of aircraft. During the conference, we recognised top-performing partners for their contribution to our D328eco™ and D328® programmes with the Deutsche Aircraft Supplier Awards, and also welcomed Advanced Integration Technology/Nova-Tech Engineering to our supplier network, who will support our Final Assembly Line with fuselage sections handling and positioning.

Market Strategy: We made our debut in China with the launch of our Mandarin landing page and official WeChat account. In addition, we participated at Aero Asia 2023 in Zhuhai, where we had the opportunities to meet potential customers to give an insight on the D328eco as well as promote the D328® turboprop fleet to the Chinese market. Our sales team continues to pursue its objectives for global expansion, successfully attended conferences in the US and Canada and as well as physically attending in person the Dubai Airshow where our D328eco, as a natural replacement for an ageing global fleet of regional jets and turboprops, received a lot of attention from current and potential customers. We are witnessing a paradigm shift towards turboprops acceptance and are pleased that the US market is expressing a solid interest in our product.

Virtual First Flight: Another milestone was achieved in November with the introduction of our new engineering simulator for the D328eco. Developed in collaboration with Reiser Simulation and Training as well as Garmin, this simulator will provide valuable insights into the flight characteristics of our new regional turboprop.

Sustainable Flights: We commissioned a comprehensive study, conducted by Ludwig-Bölkow-Systemtechnik (LBST), that compares the economic and environmental performance of Liquefied Hydrogen (LH2) and Power-to-Liquids (PtL) in aviation, emphasising our commitment to sustainability and innovation.

Looking ahead to 2024, we are excited about our first test flights using Sustainable Aviation Fuels. We plan to participate in ILA Berlin and the Farnborough International Airshow, which will provide opportunities for us to meet with business partners and potential future operators. The market interest in our new D328eco continues to grow and we cannot wait to share our progress throughout the coming year. 2024 promises to be another thrilling year for us and we are looking forward to working together with you on this incredible journey.

Last but not least, we have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with an undisclosed customer for the purchase of up to four D328eco aircraft, which will replace an ageing turboprop fleet. This agreement marks a significant milestone for Deutsche Aircraft as it solidifies the company’s position in the sub-50-seater category and serves as a testament to the global demand for new regional aircraft.

We are grateful for your continued support as we shape future aviation trends and also the history of Deutsche Aircraft. I wish you a joyous holiday season.

Best wishes,

Dave Jackson
CEO, Deutsche Aircraft

WESSLING, 13 December 2023 – Deutsche Aircraft have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with an undisclosed customer for the purchase of up to four state-of-the-art D328eco aircraft, which will replace an ageing turboprop fleet. This agreement marks a significant milestone for Deutsche Aircraft as it solidifies the company’s position in the sub-50-seater category and serves as a testament to the global demand for new regional aircraft.

The technologically advanced D328eco offers exceptional performance capabilities, making it the first choice for regional operators in the turboprop segment who are looking to replace an ageing fleet of regional jets and turboprops. Its ability to operate in challenging weather and infrastructure conditions, including extreme heat and sub-zero temperatures, sets it apart from other aircraft in its class. In addition, the D328eco's short take-off and landing capacity (STOL), outstanding economics and significant CO2 reduction contribute to its appeal.

Anastasija Visnakova, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Deutsche Aircraft, is thrilled about the increasing interest in the D328eco. “The aircraft's ability to operate in challenging environments – including short, unpaved runways and remote destinations – makes it a reliable, capable and efficient solution for regional operators,” Visnakova remarks. “On top of that, the D328eco offers the best economic and environmental advantage in its class. We recognise that regional connectivity is an important lifeline for many communities around the globe and Deutsche Aircraft is honoured to support this mission and contribute to regional operations.”

Deutsche Aircraft maintains its commitment to providing regional connectivity in the most efficient, cost-effective and sustainable way possible. The company's dedication to innovation and customer satisfaction has cemented its position as a reliable partner in the aviation industry.

Deutsche Aircraft commissioned LBST to compile a comprehensive study comparing the economic and environmental performance of Liquefied Hydrogen (LH₂) and Power-to-Liquids (PtL) in aviation. The study is focused on domestic production of electricity-based Sustainable Aviation Fuels (e-SAF) in North America and Europe, while also taking North Africa and the Middle East into account as export regions. The results complement concept studies at aircraft level with the fuel supply perspective of Sustainable Aviation Fuels.

Results of the study highlight that LH₂ has the potential to undercut PtL production costs if there are higher demands from airlines. Fuel production costs for PtL and LH₂ show similar orders of magnitude for small-scale applications such as regional airports. While LH₂ can offer cost advantages over PtL at scale due to efficiency and liquefaction economics, it requires significant infrastructure investments and novel aircraft technologies. PtL, on the other hand, necessitates only marginal upgrades to existing infrastructure and aircraft systems.

According to the frameworks employed in the analysis, in terms of greenhouse gas emissions well-to-wake, PtL and LH₂ show comparable results. Moreover, the use of PtL and LH₂ demonstrate substantial benefits in terms of non-CO₂ effects according to current scientific understanding.

The study also emphasises the importance of reducing certain aviation fuel constituents, such as aromatics and sulphur, to benefit both the climate and local air quality. For this reason, a dedicated fuel standard (“non-drop-in”) with zero aromatics is currently under development to minimise non-CO₂ effects and pollution. Due to the long lifetime of aircraft, the massive scale-up of drop-in SAF is a crucial element to mitigate the climate impact of the existing fleet. At the same time, aircraft and engine OEMs must continue their efforts into hydrogen research. Further hydrogen technology maturation at the aircraft level will enable a complete end-to-end view when comparing Liquefied Hydrogen and Power-to-Liquids in terms of operating costs and specific primary energy demand.

Patrick Schmidt, Senior Project Manager at LBST, commented on the research, stating, the real credit of our work is to take a genuinely comparative approach between LH₂ and PtL as aviation fuel, allowing for an apples-for-apples comparison in terms of costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Our sensitivity analysis allowed us to build a cost corridor, giving a feel for the potential variance of future cost estimates. Thus, we hope to provide guidance to the whole aviation ecosystem and policymakers about the benefits, challenges, and needs for a timely, sustainable, and robust energy transition in aviation."

Sofia Capito, Managing Director LBST, added: “We have leveraged our extensive expertise in PtX techno-economics and life-cycle analysis to assess the supply side of Liquefied Hydrogen and Power-to-Liquids. This additional piece complements previous studies that we conducted on PtL and LH₂. The relevance and topicality were reflected by a diverse stakeholder advisory group comprising industry actors, academia and environmental NGOs which shows that PtX is finally in the focus of aviation.”

Dave Jackson, CEO at Deutsche Aircraft, emphasised the significance of objective information in decision-making. “The independent findings confirm our product strategy,” he reflects. “In the short to mid-term, switching to 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuels, particularly Power-to-Liquids, is the best option to reduce environmental impact. Our D328eco^TM will be compatible with 100% non-drop-in Sustainable Aviation Fuels, offering substantial reductions in pollution and climate impact as quickly as possible. When it comes to hydrogen, we continue our research and technology efforts, knowing that to operate commercial hydrogen aircraft, the industry must take a giant leap forward regarding technology maturity, infrastructure, regulations and economics.”

Regina Pouzolz, Director Sustainability at Deutsche Aircraft, says that, “The study delivered the essential puzzle piece to achieve an objective and holistic evaluation of technology and design options for our next aircraft. PtL is the best choice to minimise aviation’s climate impact now and in the future.”

The study “E-SAF: Techno-Economics of PtL and PtH2”, is available here: https://en.lbst.de/publikationen/Techno-Economics-of-PtL-and-PtH2-2023/

Deutsche Aircraft welcomes the use of the study, with respect to the stated copyright terms.

Wessling, 29 November 2023 – The Deutsche Aircraft team successfully completed its integration test campaign with a virtual first flight in the brand-new, state-of-the-art engineering simulator. This simulator has been developed and built in partnership with Reiser Simulation and Training as well as Garmin – the supplier of the flight deck – and will provide further insights into the flight characteristics of the innovative 40-seater turboprop.

This is a key milestone for Deutsche Aircraft in the development of the D328eco. The engineering simulator will allow the flight test team to perform an early evaluation of systems, cockpit ergonomics and aircraft behaviour, which will serve as a baseline for overall customer feedback. This feedback will help the team to design the D328eco so it will correspond better to customer expectations as well as enable early risk mitigations.

“The introduction of the first engineering simulator is an important milestone in the development of the D328eco,” says Nico Neumann, COO at Deutsche Aircraft. “This device shows, once more, what is possible with a shared vison, strong partnerships and good collaboration. It clearly demonstrates our capability at Deutsche Aircraft to design and built complex simulation systems.”

“This device is a fundamental element of our test strategy for the D328eco,” adds Tim Otte, Director of Flight and Integration Tests. “It provides early testing capability with the pilot in the loop, and as such, helps to ensure early system maturity. For our flight test activities, it will pave the way for an efficient, safe and environmentally friendly test campaign.”

Modelling Tomorrow: Flight Simulations as Architects of Progress at Deutsche Aircraft

Flight simulators have traditionally been associated with pilot training, but at Deutsche Aircraft, their role extends far beyond honing pilot skills.

"While flight simulations offer a range of capabilities without actual aircraft operation,our main objective is to expedite results for pilots and design teams,” explains Yigit Sahin, Flight Simulation Engineer at Deutsche Aircraft.

The genesis of flight simulation dates back to 1929 when Edward Albert Link invented the first simulator, which offered a safer, more cost-effective approach to pilot training.

Today, full flight simulators provide a realistic training environment, enabling pilots to practice critical manoeuvres essential for real-world operations. Moreover, at Deutsche Aircraft, the engineering simulator has evolved into a catalyst for modelling, testing and innovation, playing a pivotal role in the development of the new 40-seat turboprop, the D328eco®.

The Crucial Role of Flight Simulators

Three types of simulators are integral to the development process at Deutsche Aircraft:

- Full Flight Simulators (FFS)

- SIMZERO desktop simulator

- TZERO engineering simulator

While FFS meticulously replicate specific aircraft, the latter devices focus on modelling and testing performance during the development stage.

Underscoring the value of bridging the gap between simulator and aircraft, Sahin states that “We aim to ensure our pilots are intimately familiar with the cockpit environment to minimize any surprises during actual flight."

Flight Simulators in Design and Development

At Deutsche Aircraft,a paradigm shift is underway. "Design is often thought to precede testing, but we're endeavouring to alter this industry mindset,” Sahin declares.

The TZERO engineering simulator allows the design department to evaluate new concepts, enhancements and modifications before physical construction begins.

Sahin's role as a liaison between the Flight Physics department and the simulator supplier is pivotal as he oversees the implementation of various flight models, ensuring they align with the real aircraft's performance.

"By providing test pilots with modelled avionics deck options, we expedite decision-making and optimise design efforts,” he says, highlighting the impact of modelling on efficiency.

Flying Towards Sustainability: Simulators and the Environment

Deutsche Aircraft is committed to environmental sustainability, aligning with the 1.5°C targets of the Paris Agreement. The sustainability of the D328eco hinges on material selection, aerodynamics, fuel efficiency and fuel type. Flight simulators play a critical role in minimising actual flights, thereby reducing the aviation industry's carbon footprint.

"The higher the simulator's accuracy, the fewer flights we'll need for testing, resulting in amore sustainable operation,” Sahin asserts, underlining the importance of simulator accuracy in achieving sustainability goals.

Shaping Tomorrow: The Future of Flight Simulation

Looking ahead, Sahinen visions a dynamic future for flight simulation. He anticipates integration with artificial intelligence, enabling advanced anomaly detection and proactive alerts. Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality could immerse pilots in hyper-realistic environments, enhancing their situational awareness.

Moreover, computer vision-based intelligent aviation, precision autopilot systems and the potential for fully autonomous transport aircraft are poised to revolutionise the aviation landscape.

As we navigate the horizon of possibilities, one thing is certain: in the dynamic field of engineering simulators, the potential is limitless.

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Zhuhai, 23 November 2023 – Deutsche Aircraft has made its debut at one of China’s prominent aviation events, Aero Asia 2023, which takes place from 23–26 November. As regional flights play a vital part of the transportation network in China, the German aircraft manufacturer aims to provide sustainable regional connections with the D328® legacy aircraft and the new D328eco®, the 40-seater sustainable turboprop. According to market forecasts, the Chinese aviation market will require 20% of the world’s commercial aircraft in the next 20 years.

D328eco aims to support sustainable regional aviation in China

The outstanding flight characteristics and versatility of the D328eco allows it to access destinations with short and unpaved runways, in a variety of weather conditions. This will open up new route possibilities for businesses and people who rely heavily on regional aviation across China. The D328eco will also facilitate sustainable regional flights with the lowest fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions on the market. This aircraft is designed to operate on 100% SAF Power-to-Liquid (PtL),which can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 95%.

Comfort comes first on the shortest of routes

An integrated Garmin Companion™ flight deck, brand new PW127XT-S engines and a comfortable and quiet cabin make the D328eco turboprop ahead of its time: an innovative and robust aircraft which offers maximum comfort for passengers and flight crew. These features set the D328eco apart as the most efficient, modern and sustainable regional aircraft in its class.

Ryan Ding, China Regional Director at Deutsche Aircraft shares his insights on the Aero Asia airshow. “The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) is trying to encourage general aviation operators with a maximum limit of 30 passengers to handle short regional routes. This is a perfect match for our D328® legacy aircraft as well as our D328eco in the next phase, ”he says.

“Aero Asia is a great opportunity for us to introduce the D328eco regional turboprop to the Chinese market while building solid relationships with industry partners. Deutsche Aircraft are pleased to be in Zhuhai to witness the latest developments in China’s aviation industry. Additionally, with the launch of our official WeChat account and Chinese website, we will become more accessible to the market.”

At the 2nd AIRCRAFT Supplier Summit, held on November 7-8, 2023, Deutsche Aircraft developed an influential presence with industry partners.  

The Summit took place close to the location where the Final Assembly Line (FAL) of the new D328eco® which will be built at Leipzig/Halle Airport. Some of the key topics from the event included:

• Shaping Future D328eco Aircraft Supply Chains
• Sustainability from Slow Seller to Bestseller
• Equipping the Factory of the Future

Deutsche Aircraft and industry partners join forces to shape the aircraft supply chain for the D328eco

As the event's host, Maximilian Fahr, Vice President Supply Chain at Deutsche Aircraft, welcomed industry partners and emphasised the importance of a robust supply chain in the aviation industry, as well as the critical role of creating an efficient ecosystem with suppliers.

During the panel on Shaping Future Eco Aircraft Supply Chains, our COO, Nico Neumann, discussed Deutsche Aircraft's ambition to become an industry flagship and explained how the OEM contributes to technology-enabled supplier collaboration by aiming to become a leader in sustainability and innovation in the aviation industry, with collaborating like-minded partners supporting Deutsche Aircraft's mission.

Regina Pouzolz, Director of Sustainability at Deutsche Aircraft, emphasised the importance of sustainability in the development of the D328eco, which will use Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF),followed by a transition to near zero-emission flying by exploring alternative propulsion systems that will shift aviation towards more carbon neutrality.

During the Equipping the Factory of the Future panel, Sebastian Böhnl, Director of Infrastructure & Digitalisation at Deutsche Aircraft, offered his thoughts on the future of manufacturing.  As the Final Assembly Line will become a one-of-a-kind manufacturing hall with an automated production line, the D328eco's construction will be facilitated. According to Böhnl, the next generation of holistic factory planning and digitalized process flows will be critical in the manufacturing flow.

One of the highlights of the summit was the awards ceremony which took place on the first day. The awards to recognised suppliers that are going the extra mile in their collaboration with Deutsche Aircraft. The following suppliers won in their respective categories:

Sustainable Excellence Partner for the D328eco programme: Pratt and Whitney Canada.

Best Engineering Services Supplier for the D328eco programme: Umlaut Engineering.

Best Supplier In-Service Support category: PMG Precision Mechanics

Best performer for the D328ecoprogramme: in 2023 Aciturri

New supplier on board for the Final Assembly Line

AIT/Nova-Tech Engineering was announced as the supplier for Fuselage Sections Handling and Positioning as well as Aircraft Transport and Positioning at the Final Assembly Line in Leipzig, where the D328eco will be manufactured. This agreement marks another milestone for the Deutsche Aircraft team.  

A fantastic opportunity for continuous collaboration

Overall, the 2023 AIRCRAFT Supplier Summit was a unique opportunity to network with decision-makers across the industry and a valuable forum for face-to-face discussions with strategic partners and suppliers.

Over two days, participants shared critical insights into building resilient supply chains, championing sustainability and harnessing the potential of technology.

Deutsche Aircraft continues to fuel inspiration for sustainable regional aviation by establishing strong relationships with industry partners to create a robust supply chain network.

Leipzig, 09 November 2023 – During the AIRCRAFT Supplier Summit, Deutsche Aircraft welcomed a new supplier. Advanced Integration Technology/Nova-Tech Engineering (AIT/NTE) has been selected to support the Final Assembly Line with Fuselage Sections Handling and Positioning, as well as Aircraft Transport and Positioning.

With this new deal, AIT/Nova-Tech Engineering will support the Final Assembly Line at Leipzig/Halle airport, where the 40-seater D328eco regional turboprop will be built. AIT/Nova-Tech is one of the largest providers of aerospace automation, mechanisation, and tooling. As Deutsche Aircraft builds the factory of the future with innovative manufacturing capabilities, it is essential to collaborate with the industry leader in constructing well-integrated automation production processes.

Experts in aerospace tooling and the aerostructures industry’s most experienced designer, manufacturer, and integrator of automated conveyance, positioning, and joining systems, AIT/NTE, is serving as Deutsche Aircraft’s industrialisation partner for the D328eco. Utilising its engineering core competency and vertically integrated manufacturing capabilities AIT/NTE is providing flexible and reliable equipment and tooling for Deutsche Aircraft’s Leipzig production facility.

Maximilian Fahr, Vice President of Supply Chain at Deutsche Aircraft, remarks, “We are constructing the factory of the future, and our suppliers are critical to our success. Deutsche Aircraft is pleased to formalise a deal with AIT/Nova-Tech in Leipzig to set important groundwork for our Final Assembly Line, which will incorporate integrated solutions into our production processes."

Advanced Integration Technology/Nova Tech Engineering Director Business Development Europe, Herve Grosdemange, states: “By providing AIT/NTE’s industry-leading factory solutions through this strong partnership with Deutsche Aircraft, we are pleased and honored to be the supplier of the D328eco Final Assembly Line’s automation industrialisation.”

Key partners awarded for their contributions to the D328eco® and D328® programme ‍

‍Leipzig, 08 November 2023 – During yesterday's Leipzig-based 2nd AIRCRAFT Supplier Summit, Deutsche Aircraft recognised suppliers for going the extra mile with a special awards ceremony. The OEM collaborates with domestic and international suppliers who are essential for the development of the D328eco, the new 40-seater turboprop, and the in-service D328 legacy aircraft. Suppliers were grouped into different categories and assessed based on their capabilities and performance during 2023.

Maximilian Fahr, Vice President of Supply Chain at Deutsche Aircraft, said, “We appreciate the opportunity to honour the best of our suppliers and strengthen our commercial ties. Our suppliers are essential for the success of our product.”

The selection of candidates was based on two main factors: initiative and technical proficiency. The initiative criteria, accounting for 60%, took precedence due to the current project phase, while technical capabilities made up the remaining 40%.

And the winners of Deutsche Aircraft Supplier Awards are . . .

Sustainable Excellence Partner for the D328eco programme: Pratt & Whitney Canada. The focus was this year on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and P&WC has supported time to market with excellence.

Best Engineering Services Supplier for the D328eco programme: Umlaut Engineering, which had the biggest value generation impact on the program, supported by a high sustainability rating.

Best Supplier In-Service Support category: PMG Precision Mechanics was honoured for their aftermarket support, high delivery performance, flexibility and quality.

Aciturri was selected as the best performer for the D328eco programme in 2023 in terms of earned value management a significant key performance metrics, as well as strategic alignment as a partner.

Leipzig, 07 November 2023 – Deutsche Aircraft kicked off the 2nd AIRCRAFT Supplier Summit in Leipzig today. The primary goal of the summit is to discuss implementation options with suppliers, with an emphasis on the crucial role of procurement.

The AIRCRAFT Supplier Summit brings together key suppliers who will shape the future of aircraft supply chains. We have invited next-generation aircraft manufacturers doing business in Leipzig and around the world to discuss the industry’s technological transformation, with the aim of adopting a sustainable approach to developing new concepts for all stakeholders for the next generation of aircraft.

An effective supply chain is critical for the production of the D328eco, the world’s most advanced turboprop, and for the region of Saxony. All manufacturing will take place at the Final Assembly Line at Leipzig/Halle Airport, which will have a production capacity of 48 aircraft per year as the airport develops into an important aviation hub with a strong air logistics infrastructure.

90% of suppliers for the D328eco are on Board

Deutsche Aircraft, which expects to put the D328eco into service by 2026, has completed nearly 90% of its supply chain agreements and is moving on to preparations for aircraft manufacturing.

Maximilian Fahr, Vice President Supply Chain at Deutsche Aircraft, remarks, “Our theme for this year’s AIRCRAFT Supplier Summit is Digital, Green and Sustainable. We are striving to drive technological transformation for long-term sustainability, notably in aviation supply chain and procurement, and this initiative will support the entire aviation environment around Leipzig/Halle Airport. This summit will establish the framework for sustainable and innovative supply chain concepts. Delegates will discuss how these concepts can be implemented in collaboration with suppliers and how this can benefit the broader aviation ecosystem. The participation of 200 suppliers will ensure exciting, in-depth discussions.”‍

Nico Neumann, Chief Operations Officer at Deutsche Aircraft, adds, “Since its inception, Deutsche Aircraft has dedicated itself to being the industry's flagship for innovation and leading the transition to a more sustainable future. Our dedication to fresh ideas, cooperation and connecting with like-minded partners will contribute to the realisation of our mission. We are especially excited to be in Leipzig today where our climate neutral Final Assembly Line will be located.”

The supplier selection for the D328eco is part of the sustainability goals at Deutsche Aircraft, and as an OEM, the parts used to make the aircraft must align with our objective towards a more climate neutral air travel.

On the second day of the event, Deutsche Aircraft will present the Supplier Summit Awards, based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, to recognise the exceptional performance and capabilities of our industry partners.

Toulouse/Munich, 16 October 2023 – Deutsche Aircraft and Latecoere announce the appointment of Latecoere as strategic supplier of doors for the 40-seater D328eco regional turboprop, a platform that is accelerating the aviation industry’s transition towards lower emissions.  

Through this build-to-print contract, Latecoere will manufacture all six doors for Deutsche Aircraft’s D328eco regional turboprop for the duration of the programme. This will include the passenger door, service door, cargo door, two emergency doors and hatch door. The group will leverage its industrial footprint in Europe to supply Deutsche Aircraft’s production facility in Leipzig, Germany. Prior to manufacturing, Latecoere’s engineering office in Toulouse, France, will support the 2D-to-3D design phase. The first doors will be delivered to Deutsche Aircraft by mid-2025.

Greg Huttner, Group CEO of Latecoere, states that “Deutsche Aircraft and Latecoere share the same ambition for sustainable aviation. Building on a strong heritage and next-gen innovations, the D328eco will meet its challenges and as a tier 1 partner we are extremely proud to contribute to its journey with our leading door expertise and capabilities.”

Maximilian Fahr, Vice President Supply Chain at Deutsche Aircraft, remarks that "Doors are intricate and essential components of aircraft construction and Latecoere's track record and outstanding position in the door market are major assets for our D328eco programme. With this contract we are one step closer to finishing a fully robust supply chain that satisfies our operational efficiency criteria and supports our long-term sustainable strategy with the inclusion of Latecoere to our industrial partner portfolio.”

Munich, 04 October 2023 – Deutsche Aircraft recently completed an extensive wind-tunnel testing campaign for the D328ALPHA technology demonstrator. The D328ALPHA is a one-off modification to an existing D328® airframe. The objective of this programme is to evaluate, develop and flight-test promising technologies that will reduce aviation emissions, such as electric propulsion, fuel cells and liquid hydrogen storage.

The successful completion of the wind tunnel test campaign marks an important milestone for future flight. This test was conducted in the context of the LuFo VI-I (Luftfahrtforschungsprogramm) Civil Aviation Research programme and is partially funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Action (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz or BMWK). With the LuFo VI, the BMWK is striving to develop a sustainable, economical and efficient air transport system of the future.

The wind tunnel test aims to validate next-generation propulsion systems

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The objective of this powered-model test was to validate the overall aerodynamic integration of a next-generation electric propulsion system that is being developed with our project partners. This 9-week campaign evaluated various combinations of propulsive power, stability, control and performance parameters over the expected flight envelope. The outcome of this test confirms prior analysis conducted using state-of-the-art Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and will allow Deutsche Aircraft to refine an engineering flight simulator.

The D328ALPHA was also presented at the E2FLIGHT Emission Free and Electric Flight Conference in September 2023, which was organised by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and University of Stuttgart. Chief Engineer for Future Projects at Deutsche Aircraft, Riaan Myburgh, presented the latest developments for the D328ALPHA demonstrator at the conference.

As we wrap up the third quarter of 2023, I am pleased to announce that we have accomplished significant goals for our company and want to take this opportunity to thank the Deutsche Aircraft team for their unwavering dedication to our common purpose. I would like to share some of our most recent achievements, on the corporate and business front. 

Our team keeps growing, and we have surpassed our goal of more than 500 passionate aviation professionals at Deutsche Aircraft. We continue to attract the best talent from the global aerospace and aviation sectors and are working towards 600 team members by the end of 2023.

Following the success of the Paris Air Show in June, we signed a number of supplier contracts and have confirmed 90% of the supply chain for our D328eco®. The latest agreements are with ASE S.p.A. for the AC Primary Power Generation and Distribution System, Satys Cabin for the design and production of interior fittings and Latecoere, who will manufacture the six doors for the D328eco.  

In August, we announced a new alliance towards climate-neutral aviation with energy and industry partners in Northern Norway. We are collaborating with Energi I Nord (North Energy Cluster), Bodø Airport Development Company (BLU) and other aviation industry stakeholders on how the supply, demand and production of near carbon-neutral synthetic aviation fuels could be ramped up for regional operators in Northern Norway. 

During the last quarter, we also opened our 500-square-metre Logistics Centre in Leipzig, which is ready to welcome the parts for our D328eco. This new logistics space is located 10 minutes from our Final Assembly Line, where construction will begin soon. 

At the Friedrichshafen wind tunnel facilities, we recently completed extensive testing for our D328ALPHA technology demonstrator. The intention of this powered-model test was to validate the overall aerodynamic integration of a next-generation electric propulsion system that is being developed with project partners. The 9-week campaign evaluated various combinations of propulsive powers, stability, control and performance parameters over the expected flight envelope. The outcome of this test confirms prior analysis conducted using state-of-the-art Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and will allow Deutsche Aircraft to refine an engineering flight simulator. 

Saving the best news for last, Deutsche Aircraft took part in the Nationale Luftfahrtkonferenz 2023 (German National Aviation Conference) in Hamburg this week. Together with the German Aerospace Center (DLR), German Government and other German aviation industry partners, we unveiled the much-anticipated D328® UpLift aircraft which will serve as a flying test laboratory for future developments in air transport.  

Preparations for the UpLift aircraft began in August, two months after we became the official OEM partner for the German Aerospace Center (DLR) under the governmental Uplift programme. The journey continued with pilot simulator training for the D328 aircraft that facilitated the first flight from Munich's Oberpfaffenhofen Airport to Hamburg.  

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz joined our executive management team in front of the aircraft before the conference began, along with Dr. Robert Habeck, the Federal Minister of Economics and Climate Action, Dr. Volker Wissing, Federal Minister of Digital and Transport, Dr. Anna Christmann, Federal Government Coordinator for German Aerospace Policy, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla, Chair of the DLR Executive Board, Dr. Michael Schöllhorn, President of BDLI, Jost Lammers, President of BDL, and Oliver Luksic, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Digital and Transport. The high level of interest underlines the significance of Deutsche Aircraft for the German government.  

The continued dedication of the entire Deutsche Aircraft team fuels our collective drive toward innovation and sustainability. Thank you once again. Let us continue to make aviation history together!

Best regards,

Dave Jackson
CEO, Deutsche Aircraft

Hamburg, 25 September 2023 - At the National Aviation Conference 2023 in Hamburg, Deutsche Aircraft, in cooperation with the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI) and the German government, presented the D328 turboprop flying test bed in its new, distinctive Uplift livery. The D328, an integral part of many regional airline fleets, is now also a pioneer for alternative propulsion technologies for a more environmentally friendly aviation future.

The Uplift programme exemplifies the shared vision of the future of aviation and the industry's collaboration towards the aviation paradigm of climate-neutral flying. The D328 UpLift aircraft will become a major beacon of innovation, reflecting the commitment to environmental protection and ground-breaking advances in the aviation sector.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz met the management of Deutsche Aircraft, the Federal Minister of Economics and Climate Action, Dr. Robert Habeck, Dr. Volker Wissing, Federal Minister of Digital and Transport, Dr. Anna Christmann, the Federal Government Coordinator for German Aerospace Policy, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla, Chairman of the DLR Executive Board, Dr. Michael Schöllhorn, President of BDLI, Jost Lammers, President of BDL, Oliver Luksic, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Digital and Transport and Carsten Spohr, CEO of Lufthansa Group in front of the aircraft at the National Aviation Conference in Hamburg.

This year's National Aviation Conference is about aviation's journey towards climate neutrality. The D328 Uplift will serve as a catalyst for research into alternative propulsion systems and help the industry find environmentally friendly solutions for aviation. Furthermore, the aircraft's versatility and efficiency are a perfect match for the Uplift initiative.

Dave Jackson, CEO of Deutsche Aircraft, states, "We are honoured to take part in this important event where Deutsche Aircraft will make a significant contribution to shaping the future of the aviation industry and supporting the government's efforts to achieve sustainable and near carbon-neutral aviation."

Nico Neumann, COO Deutsche Aircraft, remarks, "Deutsche Aircraft is the Type Certificate Holder of the D328 family. We are very proud that our aircraft, the D328-100 mod 20, has been selected by DLR as the flying test laboratory for the Uplift Programme. This recognition is not only a milestone for the industry, but also a symbol of Deutsche Aircraft’s commitment to enhance future technologies towards climate-neutral flying."

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Velbert/Weßling, 17 August 2023 – German OEM Deutsche Aircraft is showing support for pilots from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) who will be flying the D328 UpLift aircraft by offering simulator training at Simulator Training Solution (STS GmbH) based in Velbert.

The journey of the UpLift aircraft continues with pilot training for the D328 type aircraft ahead of the Nationale Luftfahrtkonferenz (German National Aviation Conference), which will take place in Hamburg on 25 September 2023.

As the big day approaches, preparations are currently underway for the initial changes to the D328 UpLift aircraft. The livery transformation is taking place in the hangar in Oberpfaffenhofen Airport and training has begun for the DLR cockpit crew who will be flying the aircraft from Munich’s Oberpfaffenhofen Airport to Hamburg, where the new livery will be unveiled to the public.

Conny Cornelius, Test Pilot at Deutsche Aircraft, remarks, “It is a fantastic opportunity to be able to work with colleagues from DLR to support future developments in aviation. It is time to show them the capabilities of the D328 Turboprop as the perfect flying testbed as part of the UpLift programme.”

Jan Hünerfeld, CEO of STS GmbH, states, “We are proud to be part of aviation history with our state-of-the-art D328 simulator training centre. Here, we can support DLR pilots in their training for the UpLift aircraft which will be part of German aviation history. At STS, we want to continue to support Deutsche Aircraft’s mission, as well as becoming a key service provider to D328 aircraft operators.”

Since 2020, Deutsche Aircraft has collaborated with Simulator Training Solution, which is the sole simulator training centre for operators of the D328 family of aircraft.

With the support of Deutsche Aircraft, the DLR pilots will continue flight training at the Research Airport in Braunschweig.

Bodø/Munich, 07 August 2023 – German aircraft manufacturer Deutsche Aircraft, Energi i Nord (North Energy Cluster) and Bodø Airport Development Company (BLU) have met with energy and aviation industry stakeholders to address how the supply, demand and production of near carbon-neutral synthetic aviation fuels could be ramped up for operators in Northern Norway. As airlines need to ensure their future fuel supply comes from sustainable sources, fuel manufacturers need offtake guarantees and the regulatory framework to secure the immense investments necessary to build a whole new fuel ecosystem. To take immediate action to reach climate goals, the collaboration between industry and politics is essential. Northern Norway is a vast and secluded territory which has a network of 26 regional airports that are critical for the region’s transportation infrastructure. The region also has an excess of low-cost renewable energy that is key for e-fuel production, which makes it the ideal testing ground for the development of new concepts to reach climate-neutral aviation.

Cooperation towards sustainable e-fuels

Deutsche Aircraft and Energi i Nord have been collaborating successfully for more than a year to promote e-fuels using industrial CO₂ point sources as a first step, which will later be substituted by direct air capture powered by abundant renewable energy to minimise lifecycle emissions.

By exploring flight testing opportunities and studying ground infrastructure requirements to produce e-fuels, this partnership paves the way towards Northern Norway becoming a national and international leader in the enormous transformation aviation is facing. The cluster also collaborates with the Lofoten – The Green Islands 2030 project, an ambitious roadmap to set a scenic and untouched island community on a course to becoming fully carbon neutral, including its tourism sector. Short-haul routes within the Lofoten archipelago will be among the first to be operated with alternative fuels.

Deutsche Aircraft is developing its new regional 40-seater turboprop, the D328eco®, that will be compatible with 100% SAF including e-fuels. Powered by state-of-the-art technologies, it will achieve near carbon-neutral flights from its entry into service, with low operating costs and excellent performance. Beyond the D328eco, Deutsche Aircraft is also studying alternative propulsion technologies based on hydrogen for future aircraft programs.

Energi i Nord is comprised of industrial players such as major wind and hydropower producers, technology suppliers and electrochemical companies, as well as members of the aviation sector and local communities that are determined to take the lead energy transition.

It has several ongoing projects in green aviation and has cooperated closely with aviation industries in Germany, France and Iceland. At present, Energi i Nord is conducting a study mapping the potential for the use and production of e-fuels in Northern Norway and in Iceland in cooperation with Icelandic partners.

Regina Pouzolz, Director Sustainability at Deutsche Aircraft, highlighted the importance of PtL fuels for reducing the climate impact of aviation. “Aviation’s climate impact depends on both CO₂ and non-CO₂ effects, both of which are minimised by PtL. Climate change asks for substantial and fast solutions in the aviation sector. While hydrogen aircraft may be an interesting solution in the farther future, our climate cannot afford to wait for these technologies to achieve the maturity that is required to perform safe and cost-efficient flights. PtL fuels that have been produced from renewable energy can bring the CO₂ balance to almost zero. They reduce the impact of contrails, and they improve local air quality because they naturally do not hold aromatics and produce less soot. At the same time, changes to the aircraft and infrastructure are reasonable. Enabling the already efficient D328eco turboprop to fly with any type of SAF is the biggest and fastest leap on our path to climate-neutral aviation.”

“We have the best possible ecosystem in Northern Norway to make low carbon e-fuels a reality," says Anders Tørud, Project Manager Green Aviation at Energi i Nord. “E-fuels and hydrogen produced from renewable energies are the most promising scalable solutions to significantly reduce emissions in aviation, one of the most hard-to-abate sectors. To make it happen, it is essential to bring down production costs through scale. We have the right ecosystem in Northern Norway to do so,” he adds.

According to Marc Siegel, Senior Manager Marketing at Sasol ecoFT, “Size matters. The bigger the plant, the more efficient it is. Integrated processes and industrial facilities further increase efficiencies and therefore the sustainability of novel technologies,” he says.

“It is crucial to find, solve and develop more solutions to reduce emissions in the aviation industry. Our partnership with Deutsche Aircraft and Energi i Nord is our answer, in the short and medium term, as well as long term,” says Elnar Holmen, CEO Bodø Airport Development Company.

Le Bourget, July 2023 – Deutsche Aircraft and the aerospace Italian company ASE S.p.A. announced at the Paris Airshow their new agreement for the AC Primary Power Generation and Distribution Systems for the D328eco, the brand new regional 40-seater sustainable turboprop from Deutsche Aircraft.

The AC electrical system from ASE mainly consist of two 25 kVA AC generators, two Generator Control Units (GCU) and two Primary Power Distribution Unit (PDU).

The AC Generators are attached to the propeller gear box which provides the appropriate RPM. Each generator is controlled by its generator control unit and outputs the power to the two-channel primary power distribution unit. From there, power is supplied to all AC loads via the secondary power distribution system.

“We’re proud to announce that we’ve been selected as the AC electrical system supplier for Deutsche Aircraft’s new turboprop D328eco the innovative fixed wing civilian aircraft which is designed to have a lower environmental impact, with comfort and efficiency”, says Giuseppe D’Alò, ASE Chief Executive Officer. “Our AC electrical system will complement the D328eco by being very light, compact and silent. ASE is honoured to collaborate with Deutsche Aircraft on such an innovative project. This partnership aligns with our philosophy of care towards the environment and our love for technology”, says Fausto Cosentino, ASE Chief Business Officer.

Giuseppe D’Alò,ASE Chief Executive Officer. “Our AC electrical system will complement the D328eco by being very light, compact, and silent. ASE is honoured to collaborate with Deutsche Aircraft on such an innovative project. This partnership aligns with our philosophy of care towards the environment and our love for technology”, says Fausto Cosentino, ASE Chief Business Officer.

Maximillian Fahr (Deutsche Aircraft Vice President of Supply Chain) highlighted the importance of the agreement with ASE “ASE is our ideal partner that is prepared to support the D328eco Program with strong project management and integration capabilities across the entire lifecycle of the aircraft. Furthermore, the regional capabilities are a key factor in the supplier selection process along product reliability, and the collaborative approach and experience will ensure compliance with the Program schedule and ramp-up.”

As we come to the close of the second quarter of 2023, I want to take this opportunity to once again express my thanks to all of the hard work within the Deutsche Aircraft team and for your consistently high level of commitment to our shared mission. In the past quarter, we have again achieved important goals for our company. I am proud to look back briefly at our recent achievements.

Our growing team is now comprised of over 500 experts who share a common enthusiasm for aviation. We are moving towards our goal of nearly 600 employees by the end of 2023 and we continue to attract talent from the aviation and aerospace industries around the world.

In April, a large part of our team moved into our new headquarters at Oberpfaffenhofen Airport. The Deutsche Aircraft sign now also shines at the main entrance to the airport together with the other brand marks that have been there already - our footprint in Oberpfaffenhofen is growing visibly in line with our company!

A sign of the good corporate culture in our company is the award we received as one of the "Top Companies 2023" from Kununu, Germany's leading career site. This award is a confirmation of our high commitment to collaboration, respect and diversity in the workplace, as well as our open feedback culture. We all know that a good company culture needs to be nurtured and we will continue to further invest in our people.

As the D328eco^TM program progresses, in May, we had two truly important and pivotal announcements and events, that were widely noticed by the aviation society, our partners and customers. We broke the ground for our final assembly line at Leipzig/Halle Airport with prominent participation from politicians and industry leaders. What we consider as the finest assembly line in the world will be the birthplace of our new D328eco aircraft. In conjunction with this, we welcomed our first European launch customer, Private Wings, on the tarmac in front of one of their existing D328® aircraft. Private Wings currently operates nine D328® Turboprops and one D328® Jet. The letter of intent for the delivery of up to five brand-new D328eco is a good indication of our customers' confidence in Deutsche Aircraft and our D328eco programme. This is not just a first LOI announcement, but also a great endorsement from our current operator.  We are truly proud to see the commitment to the aircraft type and us, as an OEM, from one of the biggest D328® Turboprop operator.

At the Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in Hamburg, we signed an agreement with ACRO to supply Deutsche Aircraft with their Series 9 economy class seats for the D328® family, which includes the new D328eco and also as an option for retrofit on in-service D328® turboprops and jets.

Last week we returned from the Paris Air Show 2023. It was fantastic to make our mark on one of the world's most prestigious aviation events together with our industry partners and to position our D328eco in the market. With our state-of-the-art cockpit mock-up and an insight into our new cabin design we were able to demonstrate the capabilities and comfort of our aircraft to our customers. Also, our agreements with key suppliers made headlines, including our end-to-end material supply chain solution with thyssenkrupp Aerospace and NORDAM for the D328eco engine nacelles. We announced our collaboration with Liebherr Aerospace for the air management system and with Sasol ecoFT to offer the D328eco's customers an access to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). In terms of suppliers, we have now confirmed almost 90% of our agreements and are getting closer and closer to flying our D328eco aircraft.

Certainly, a highlight for Deutsche Aircraft is the sale of the D328® aircraft and becoming the OEM partner for the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in the context of the UpLift project. Together with DLR and the German government, we were able to make this official public announcement during the Paris Air Show. Now we can focus on transforming one of our D328® aircraft into a “flying test bed” which, over the next few years, will play a significant part in the German government´s ambition to become a world leader in future propulsion technologies research for the use of hydrogen in aviation.  The D328® thus becomes part of the German research fleet and Deutsche Aircraft will gain more international attention as a partner for innovative and sustainable flying.

Our collective drive towards innovation and sustainability is fuelled by the dedication of the entire Deutsche Aircraft team. Thank you once again. Let us continue to make aviation history together!

Best Regards,

Dave Jackson

CEO, Deutsche Aircraft

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Le Bourget, 22 June 2023 – Deutsche Aircraft wrapped up a successful week at the Paris Air Show after announcing major collaborations with the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Sasol ecoFT and other important suppliers. This year, the German OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) focused on the D328eco® programme, the new sustainable 40-seater turboprop that will be 100% SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) compatible. The Deutsche Aircraft chalet also featured a cabin and cockpit mock-up of the D328eco aircraft that will enter into service in 2026.

The week started of with major announcements, including the signing of an important agreement with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) for the D328® to be used as a flying testbed for future propulsion technologies. Deutsche Aircraft also announced a collaboration with South African chemicals and energy giant Sasol ecoFT on SAF Power to Liquid (PtL) and other partnerships with key suppliers who play a pivotal role in the development of the D328eco.

From the heart of Bavaria to Paris

As a German aircraft manufacturer with roots in Bavaria, Deutsche Aircraft organised a special gathering with a Bavarian theme. This event offered journalists and industry partners a chance to network with the Deutsche Aircraft team to learn more about the D328eco product and take an exclusive tour of the cabin and cockpit mock-up which highlighted the aircraft’s latest technologies.

Anastasija Visnakova, Vice President Sales & Marketing at Deutsche Aircraft, was delighted about the outcome of the Paris Air Show and the connections made at this year’s event. “After Covid-19, it is fantastic to be back in Paris to catch up with the developments in the industry. We are here to build solid relations with industry partners and we did so successfully throughout this week with our announcements about major collaborations. We also kept the industry updated with our progress on our D328eco programme.”

Paul Wawruszczak, Head of Marketing at Deutsche Aircraft, expressed gratitude to his team who made the show possible. “The Paris Air Show is one of the most prestigious aviation events where we pulled out all the stops and leave our mark as a brand and we are extremely satisfied with the outcome as we had a huge interest to our chalet and the D328eco cabin and cockpit mock ups. It is always an honour to be part of this event where you have the opportunity to join the wider aviation family and find out about current trends in the industry. This year, we also presented a cabin mock-up of our D328eco, where visitors could get to know more about the on-board experience.”

Now getting ready for the upcoming shows

Deutsche Aircraft team is now getting ready for the upcoming global aviation events to continue the promotion of the D328eco and build lasting relationships with important business partners from around the globe.

Le Bourget, 20 June 2023 - Deutsche Aircraft has won the public tender with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) for the step-by-step conversion of a Dornier 328 Turboprop into a flying testbed. The procurement, conversion and use as a flying testbed is part of the UpLift project for research into technologies for the use of hydrogen in aviation. By converting the D328, a classic regional aircraft, into a flying testbed, a bridge will be built between research and practice.

DLR will act as the project manager for UpLift. Deutsche Aircraft is one of the project partners and will contribute its expertise as an aircraft manufacturer. The plan is to test pioneering propulsion, fuel and system technologies under real flight conditions in order to accelerate research and development. The funding for 2023 to 2025 is part of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK) aviation research program LuFo Klima, which is how the German government is supporting the aviation industry on its way to CO2 neutrality and climate compatibility.

German OEM for the future of German aviation

The D328, EASA's large aircraft class ("CS25"), provides the ideal platform for demonstrating new components and systems under test since it has a wide stand-up cabin which allows for various modular options. Aside from the space, the turboprop boasts a 30,000-foot flight ceiling, an upgradeable flight deck, the option to convert to 100% SAF, and strong field performance. The overall high performance and robustness of the aircraft, the expandable cockpit and, last but not least, the possibility of testing SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) and, in the future, hydrogen or other sustainable energy sources in flight, make the D328 the perfect tool for the research project. Future system technologies, fuel cells, fuel systems and their integration will play an important role here.

Furthermore, the OEM Deutsche Aircraft brings in the technological expertise and know-how to support DLR's research activities in UpLift. Deutsche Aircraft is also a partner to science and industry in other LuFo projects, working together to pave the way to climate-compatible aviation. Those relationships are an important component of the German aviation ecosystem, also in terms of developing chances for future aviators.  

Dr. Jasmin Eberharter, Head of Research and Technology programs at Deutsche Aircraft, emphasizes: “The path towards climate-neutral flights is a joint effort between the whole aviation ecosystem. With UpLift, aviation experts have a significant opportunity to join forces across science and industry, further contributing and accelerating sustainable aviation.”

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla, Chairwoman of the DLR Executive Board, says, "The new D328 UpLift research aircraft will perfectly complement DLR's research fleet as a flying test laboratory for hydrogen technologies and pave the way for a new generation of climate-compatible aircraft in the regional aircraft class. This new fleet member, in close partnership with the aviation industry, the air transport industry as well as SMEs and start-ups, gives DLR the opportunity to test disruptive approaches in the development of new propulsion systems including hybrid-electric concepts based on hydrogen technologies and novel fuels up to the flight test stage."

The D328 is particularly suitable for assessing innovative propulsion technologies in flight due to its specific design characteristics. In addition, the D328 is used worldwide for regional commercial flights with usual propulsion technologies, providing a wealth of reference values for the evaluation of new technologies. Dave Jackson, CEO of Deutsche Aircraft, emphasized what this agreement meant for the future developments: “The UpLift Programme and the D328® as a test platform is an important step towards paving the way for the future of the aviation industry. The D328 as a flying testbed platform will be crucial in laying out the groundwork for needed technological advancements.” Nico Neumann, COO of Deutsche Aircraft, is proud to have a D328 in DLR's fleet. He states that: “We are fully committed to support as an OEM the integration of emerging technologies, to move aviation and technologies towards climate neutral flights.”

Le Bourget, 20 June 2023 - Deutsche Aircraft and Sasol ecoFT have further strengthened their partnership to support the use of 100 % Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), specifically 100% Power to Liquid (PtL), in regional aviation. At the Paris Air Show 2023, they have signed an LOI that will provide Deutsche Aircraft’s D328eco customers access to the SAF expert team from Sasol ecoFT as soon as sufficient production capacity has been ramped up.

Sasol ecoFT aims to offer access to SAF blends, certified according to ASTM. Later to be followed by 100% SAF as soon as standards evolve. This approach reflects Sasol ecoFT and Deutsche Aircraft’s vision to offer scalable SAFs to the market with the lowest environmental impact possible Sasol ecoFT leverages Sasol’s extensive Fischer-Tropsch proprietary technology, and catalysts to produce sustainable fuels via the Power-to-X process.

Deutsche Aircraft’s D328eco customers will have the option to contact Sasol ecoFT directly to explore the supply of SAF

The D328eco aircraft operators will be given priority access to the SAF experts from Sasol ecoFT. SAF will remain a scarce resource, and with this arrangement, Deutsche Aircraft will support its customers to secure SAF to reduce the environmental impact.

Dr. Regina Pouzolz, Head of Sustainability at Deutsche Aircraft, shared her insights about this agreement with Sasol ecoFT. "As Deutsche Aircraft, we are proud to be a part of a sustainable aviation ecosystem, and with our D328eco aircraft in conjunction with SAF supplied by our partner Sasol ecoFT, our customers will be able to significantly reduce their CO2 emissions, improve local air quality and reduce the climate impact from contrails. By providing demand certainty to investors and SAF producers we are supporting the SAF ramp-up vital to reduce costs."

"The agreement signed today provides our customers and future D328eco operators with a one-of-a-kind opportunity to obtain Sustainable Aviation Fuel, including Power-to-Liquids, directly from Sasol ecoFT. Regional airlines often do not have access to the SAF market. With this agreement we are bringing sustainable solutions to this market segment, which plays a major and, often, the solo role, in essential connectivity" says Anastasija Visnakova, Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

Helge Sachs, Senior Vice President Sasol ecoFT, “Within this great partnership, we share the same ambition of climate neutral aviation. Today’s agreement is another step into the right direction by supporting an often-overlooked segment of the market with SAF. We want to make fuelling up with SAF a normal thing like the world has got accustomed to lead-free gasoline many years ago.”

Marc Siegel, Senior Manager Marketing & Sales Sasol ecoFT, “Regional aviation is an important market segment. With this agreement we support decarbonization of this sector of the aviation industry. We understand that these flights are needed and want to keep remote locations including their small communities connected and provide essential services. The combination of the D328eco with our SAF can make a difference on this level as well.”

Power-to-Liquids are a scalable and long-term solution for reducing aviation’s climate impact and improve local air quality. They are produced by combining green hydrogen and CO₂ taken directly from the air (“Direct Air Capture”) or from biogenic or industrial point sources. The production process can be set up to have the same properties as conventional kerosene: high energy density at low volume, verified safety and distribution via the established infrastructure. Furthermore, these fuels naturally contain no aromatics and no sulphur, reducing contrails and improving local air quality. Deutsche Aircraft aims to make the D328eco ready for 100% Power-to-Liquids containing zero aromatics.

Le Bourget, June 2023 - Deutsche Aircraft GmbH has announced that it has selected Liebherr to supply the air management system for the D328eco aircraft, a platform that is accelerating the aviation industry’s transition towards lower emissions.  

Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse SAS, Toulouse (France) will design, supply and service the integrated air management system for the D328eco. The system meets the efficiency, weight, and performance requirements of this modern aircraft, offering cabin comfort and optimised power consumption.

“Liebherr-Aerospace is a reputable partner in the aviation industry not only with many other airframe OEMs but also a close partner for years with Deutsche Aircraft. On the D328eco program, we are pleased to have Liebherr join us, also as the supplier for the integrated air management system and thereby further reduce development times. This latest contract is based on and will further strengthen the reliable partnership we have on the flap and spoiler actuation system and reach another important milestone for the D328eco program. Deutsche Aircraft, as the only German OEM for regional aircraft, is teaming up with the finest suppliers of the industry to have the most competitive Turboprop in service. The cooperation with Liebherr perfectly fits in that picture.”, says Maximilian Fahr, Vice President Supply Chain at Deutsche Aircraft.

“We are very pleased that in addition to the flap and spoiler actuation system, we are now also able to supply the integrated air management system. Our centre of competence for air and thermal management systems in Toulouse will provide a modern air management system for the D328eco”, says Alex Vlielander, Chief Customer Officer, Liebherr-Aerospace & Transportation SAS.

Le Bourget, 20 June 2023 – Deutsche Aircraft and NORDAM signed a contract today at the Paris International Air Show for the design, development, industrialisation and manufacturing of the D328eco nacelles. NORDAM’s extensive experience in aerostructures and integrating nacelle systems – including certifications to meet stringent regulatory requirements – is ideal for the D328eco, a 40-seater turboprop aircraft that is leading the way to more sustainable regional flying. NORDAM will develop and manufacture the D328eco engine nacelles at their facilities in the U.S. and Mexico.

“This partnership with NORDAM is based on their strong capabilities and a relationship of trust and cooperation at all levels between both organisations,” says Maximilian Fahr, Vice President Supply Chain at Deutsche Aircraft. “It’s people that make products and when motivation levels are high, amazing things can happen. With the choice of NORDAM, we have taken another big step towards securing the supply chain of the D328eco. We are investing in a common vision of more sustainable flying.”

“We are excited to partner with well-established aviation pioneer Deutsche Aircraft to manufacture this key component for their eco-friendly aircraft platform,” NORDAM CEO Meredith Siegfried Madden said. “NORDAM has a rich tradition of innovation, and this program aligns with our goals to be at the forefront of supporting environmentally sustainable solutions for aerospace like the D328eco.”

Le Bourget, June 19 2023 - Deutsche Aircraft and thyssenkrupp Aerospace announced today that they are entering into a long-term frame agreement for an integrated end-to-end supply chain solution for material management for the D328eco® aircraft. thyssenkrupp Aerospace, a division of thyssenkrupp Materials Services, will be responsible for supplying materials, from planning to sourcing, processing to warehousing, as well as logistics and distribution to Deutsche Aircraft and its European subcontractors.

There are three components to this materials management solution. The first is a digital control tower that thyssenkrupp Aerospace and DAG have co-created to manage the entire ecosystem and to coordinate all material flows, from sourcing to distribution. The second part of the solution sees thyssenkrupp Aerospace take full responsibility for the procurement of all materials. The third part is a materials hub and distribution center, that enables thyssenkrupp Aerospace to deliver materials just-in-time to the production lines of the multiple sub-contractors of Deutsche Aircraft. The entire solution has been built from the ground up to enhance end-to-end transparency of the D328eco aircraft supply chain, ensure a seamless, on-time supply of materials to Deutsche Aircraft and its sub-contractors, and overall, to boost the resilience of the entire supply chain, a major concern in the aerospace and defense industry.

Patrick Marous, CEO of thyssenkrupp Aerospace, comments: “We are delighted to enter into this long-term agreement with Deutsche Aircraft and their subcontractors. The solution we developed is an object lesson in the benefits of co-creation. We spent one-year consulting with Deutsche Aircraft to assess their supply chain for raw materials. And because we built this from the ground up together with the team from Deutsche Aircraft, they get exactly the efficient, transparent, and resilient materials supply chain they need to ensure uninterrupted production of their D328eco aircraft. Our global network of certified mills and our materials expertise further ensure Deutsche Aircraft gets the quality they need.”

Maximilian Fahr, Vice President Supply Chain of Deutsche Aircraft, highlights the trusting relationship the two partners developed over the one-year consulting period as a major factor in their decision to enter into this long-term agreement. He says: “Materials is key for manufacturing, and so is reliability and risk management. We got to know each other well and built a trusting relationship. The demonstrated capabilities of managing a complex network of capacities as well as the supply chain management skills to build an end-to-end solution from scratch, convinced us in partnering on this supply chain journey. These assets will support the D320eco program entry and prepare the ramp-up phase and long-term material provision.”

Sustainability is central to the design and manufacture ethos of Deutsche Aircraft, especially in the D328eco. This supply chain solution was created with that in mind. Maximilian Fahr, says: “Resilience and reliability are essential to our materials supply chain and so is sustainability. By working closely together with the team from thyssenkrupp Aerospace, we developed synergies that will lead to reduced scrap. We increase material utilization through the demand consolidation handled by thyssenkrupp Aerospace and that plays an important role in reducing our overall carbon footprint and helping us on the way to more sustainable production.”

As part of the strategic further development "Materials as a Service", thyssenkrupp Materials Services is focusing, among other things, on the consistent expansion of its service portfolio. thyssenkrupp Aerospace is taking another important step in this direction with this partnership with Deutsche Aircraft. As one of the world’s leading supply chain management and Third-Party Logistics (3PL) service providers in the market for raw materials, thyssenkrupp Aerospace offers end-to-end solutions to build resilient and digital supply chains. The company’s service portfolio is modular and scalable, encompassing all development stages from designing to managing and operating the supply chain for its customers.