Deutsche Aircraft NEWS

Welcome to the latest edition of the Deutsche Aircraft Quarterly Newsletter!
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It is a hugely exciting time for us here at Deutsche Aircraft: since I wrote to you last, we successfully showcased our D328eco^TM at air shows both in Germany and in the UK: in June at ILA Berlin Air Show in June, and in July at Farnborough International Air Show.
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At ILA, the Management team and I met German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to provide him an update on our LuFo projects the German Federal Government is supporting and on Deutsche Aircraft and our D328eco Programme generally. We were pleased that the Prime Minister of Saxony Michael Kretschmar, as well as Anna Christmann, the Federal Government Coordinator of German Aerospace Policy, also visited us at ILA, showing great interest in our ongoing projects.

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Deutsche Aircraft is continually growing, and I am very pleased announce the appointment of Nico Neumann as Chief Operating Officer as well as Joint Managing Director of Deutsche Aircraft. Nico began his career at 328SSG in 2007 and has held a range of operational positions within the company, most recently as the VP Operations and Programme to support the further growth and strategic setup of the company.

In August Anastasija Visnakova, formerly at De Havilland, joined the Management Team as the new VP Sales &; Marketing: she will be responsible for all aircraft sales, including the D328eco, the legacy D328^® aircraft, as well as overseeing marketing activities, overall communications and customer experience.

In addition to these appointments we are pleased to welcome over seventy employees who joined the company in the last four months.

In the last quarter Deutsche Aircraft has selected key suppliers for the engine, wing spar box, landing gear, aerostructures and the design of the materials supply chain.

We are very happy to have Pratt&Whitney on board who developed the PW127XT-S engine to power the D328eco regional turboprop. This engine, as part of the XT series, sets a new benchmark in regional aviation and will deliver a significant improvement in operating costs and sustainability.

With our supplier HEGGEMANN AG we have jointly created a digital twin as well as a physical prototype of the wing spar box, proving that the future production of the spar box is possible in an efficient way that saves material.

HEGGEMANN is also our supplier for the landing gear, now ready to go into production, which will be compatible with the entire Dornier 328 (D328^®) aircraft family, retrofittable to both turboprop and jet of the existing in-service fleet, as well as the new D328eco aircraft.

Aciturri, with whom we signed the contract at Farnborough, will manufacture the fairings, landing gear doors and flight control movables, using composite and metallic technologies. Deutsche Aircraft and Aciturri are working closely together towards the industrialisation of the programme, aiming to deliver the first parts for the prototype of the aircraft (T1) in the last quarter of 2024.

thyssenkrupp Aerospace is our strategic partner to design the materials supply chain for the D328eco: thyssenkrupp Aerospace’s supply chain experts will consult Deutsche Aircraft to develop the basis for a control tower solution that will ensure an optimal coordination of supply flows.

You will find all announcements in full under our news section: enjoy the read!

Dave Jackson

Munich, August 09 th , 2022 – Deutsche Aircraft and HEGGEMANN AG announce today the production readiness stage of the new landing gear, which will be compatible with the whole Dornier 328 (D328®) aircraft family. The landing gear is retrofittable to both turboprop and jet of the existing in-service fleet, as well as the new D328eco aircraft.

Deutsche Aircraft has already secured 17 fixed orders plus 9 options for this new landing gear since opening the order book in February 2022, with first deliveries expected in the second half of 2024. HEGGEMANN will work on the industrialization of the supply chain set-up, to provide planning and delivery targets as well as visibility throughout the sub-tiers of this important work package. This partnership with HEGGEMANN perfectly supports current operators and new customers to address such an integral part of the aircraft.

Christian Howe, CEO of HEGGEMANN says: “We are delighted to be part of this hugely exciting programme, developed at an opportune time: not only the demand for regional travel is growing, but at the same time there is a need to supply older regional aircraft with new spare parts in order to guarantee a continuity in operation. We look forward to continue working with Deutsche Aircraft to further develop collaborative opportunities within the local supply chain and support the growing demand for the regional aviation industry.”

Nico Neumann, COO of Deutsche Aircraft comments: “The certification of the new D328eco landing gear, available via Service Bulletin, retrofittable to the entire current in-service fleet of D328® turboprop and jet fleet once more underpins Deutsche Aircraft’s ongoing effort to support the global fleet. We are glad to have such a strong and committed partner like HEGGEMANN by our side to be able to achieve our ambitious targets.”

Farnborough, July 18th, 2022 

Deutsche Aircraft and Aciturri announce today the appointment of Aciturri Aerostructures as reference supplier for selected composite technologies for the D328eco aircraft. The contract, signed at Farnborough Air Show (UK), stipulates that Aciturri will manufacture the fairings, landing gear doors and flight control movables, using composite and metallic technologies. Aciturri will also ensure the assembly of the components for integration on the final assembly line.

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Deutsche Aircraft and Aciturri are already working closely together towards the industrialisation of the programme, aiming to deliver the first prototype of the aircraft (T1) in the last quarter of 2024, as well as some parts of subsequent prototypes planned for 2025. Aciturri’s expertise and experience as a TIER1 aerostructures manufacturer is an important part in the development of the D328eco regional and special mission turboprop aircraft. 

Dave Jackson, CEO of Deutsche Aircraft says: “Aciturri’s existing engineering and sustainability capabilities fully allow Deutsche Aircraft to meet time-to-market objectives of the D328eco, in alignment with Aciturri’s footprint based on an increased energy-efficient manufacturing lifecycle. We take pride in sharing the same vision on sustainability in our industry and are leading the way today to further develop innovative concepts.” 

Álvaro Fernández Baragaño, CEO of Aciturri says: “We are very grateful to Deutsche Aircraft for their confidence. Participating in the D328eco project is an excellent opportunity to bring our technological and industrial experience and capabilities to the development of a modern and sustainable aircraft. Regarding the possible scope for further collaboration both companies are focused on developing new technologies to support the urgently needed transition to an aircraft industry that is sustainable, by reducing our carbon footprint through cleaner production processes. I am confident that this is just the first step on a long road of common collaboration of Deutsche Aircraft and Aciturri. 

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Note to Editors

About Deutsche Aircraft

Founded on the proud heritage of Dornier and Germany’s reputation for engineering design, quality and innovation, Deutsche Aircraft is the new purpose-driven German Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). Built on the expertise of 328 Support Services GmbH, Deutsche Aircraft will enable the future development of the D328 platform. We will exploit future technologies and capabilities to produce a more efficient, economic and environmentally-friendly aircraft to drive the future of aviation toward a zero-emission flight objective. Together with the participation of the German Government, Deutsche Aircraft is leading the way in a new era of clean aviation and is addressing the need to protect our planet and inspire future generations, for cleaner, safer and more efficient air travel.

About Aciturri

A family company founded in 1977, Aciturri is one of the main references worldwide in the development and manufacture of aeronautical components. With a turnover in 2020 of 350 million euros, the company has two lines of business; design, manufacture and assembly of aerostructures (wing assemblies, fuselage, empennage, etc); and the manufacture of engine components: primary structures, casings, rings and high precision machining.

Its customers include the main manufacturers in the sector: Airbus, Airbus Defence and Space, Boeing, Embraer, Deutsche Aircraft, Lilium, Safran Landing Systems, Safran Aircraft Engines, ITP Aero, and Rolls Royce.

The company currently has over 2,300 employees and work centres in Spain (Andalusia, Castile and Leon, Madrid, the Basque Country and Asturias), Portugal and Brazil.

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Farnborough, July 18^th, 2022

Deutsche Aircraft and thyssenkrupp Aerospace announce today that they are entering a strategic partnership to develop a material supply chain solution for the D328eco^TM aircraft. thyssenkrupp Aerospace, a company of thyssenkrupp Materials Services, will be responsible for the design of the material planning and procurement processes between multiple material and sub-tier suppliers.

thyssenkrupp Aerospace’s supply chain experts will consult Deutsche Aircraft to develop the basis for a control tower solution that will ensure an optimal coordination of supply flows. A transparent and centralised data assessment stands at the core of the solution, to align demand and supply within the manufacturing network, cutting out obsolete inventories and material shortfalls.

Patrick Marous, CEO of thyssenkrupp Aerospace says: “We are delighted to engage in this strategic partnership with Deutsche Aircraft. We believe that the best way to design an efficient and resilient supply chain is to integrate a strategic partner into the aircraft manufacturer’s value chain early on. Our control tower solutions are tailored to the specific needs of each customer and are designed in a collaborative co-creation process.

DaveJackson, CEO of Deutsche Aircraft says: “Together with thyssenkrupp Aerospace our mission is to drive the aviation industry towards a more climate-friendly supply chain to set new benchmarks when it comes to new aircraft manufacturing processes. Although strongly integrated in Germany, this initiative is part of a global effort to change the way our supply chain partners can provide more environmentally-focused strategies to eventually reduce the environmental impact of such large-scale manufacturing projects.”

Maximilian Fahr, Director of Supply Chain at Deutsche Aircraft adds: “The strategic capabilities of thyssenkrupp Aerospace will bring significant benefit across the supply chain and enable taking procurement decisions, in particular in times when global supply chain resilience is being challenged. The digitalisation of supply chain flows will enable proactive risk management and anticipate in an advanced risk management culture across the entire supply chain.”

This partnership with Deutsche Aircraft is yet another step in thyssenkrupp Aerospace’s strategy to offer Materials as a Service to their customers. As one of the world’s leading supply 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.

With the D328eco^TM, Deutsche Aircraft is driving the transition of aviation to a more climate-friendly future by developing an aircraft that will be more environmentally-friendly and efficient to operate but also to produce. Deutsche Aircraft rigorously selects its suppliers and partners to develop more sustainability-driven processes that ensure higher efficiency and cost savings.   

Note to Editors

About Deutsche Aircraft

Founded on the proud heritage of Dornier and Germany’s reputation for engineering design, quality and innovation, Deutsche Aircraft is the new purpose-driven German Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). Built on the expertise of 328 Support Services GmbH, Deutsche Aircraft will enable the future development of the D328 platform. We will exploit future technologies and capabilities to produce a more efficient, economic and environmentally-friendly aircraft to drive the future of aviation toward a zero-emission flight objective. Together with the participation of the German Government, Deutsche Aircraft is leading the way in a new era of clean aviation and is addressing the need to protect our planet and inspire future generations, for cleaner, safer and more efficient air travel.

About thyssenkrupp Aerospace

thyssenkrupp Aerospace is a leading global company that delivers supply chain solutions for the aerospace industry. The company’s network spans more than 40 sites in over 20 countries and its over 3,500 customers include the world’s biggest aerospace manufacturers and their suppliers. thyssenkrupp Aerospace offers supply chain management as well as a wide range of supply chain and manufacturing services.These include procurement of raw materials, warehousing, precision processing, third-party logistics, and just-in-time delivery.

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Munich, July 15th, 2022 - Deutsche Aircraft announces today the appointment of Anastasija Visnakova as its new VP Sales & Marketing, effective August 1st, 2022. Anastasija brings to Deutsche Aircraft over 15 years of aviation experience, gained both in the airline and aircraft OEM [Original Equipment Manufacturer] industries. Anastasija has held various executive positions in Air Baltic, Primera Air and DeHavilland Aircraft of Canada, focusing on sales, marketing, market development, and business development.

Leveraging her significant aviation and regional aviation experience, Anastasija will be responsible for all aircraft sales, including the D328eco™ aircraft, the legacy D328® aircraft, as well as overseeing marketing activities, overall communications and customer experience.

Anastasija Visnakova holds bachelor degrees in both social sciences and law. She is currently completing a LL.M. degree at the University of Edinburgh, focusing on Innovation and Technology. She also attended Harvard Business School and the Stockholm School of Economics, focusing on business administration, leadership and aviation management.

"I am excited to join Deutsche Aircraft as Vice President Sales and Marketing to further work on developing the product, the commercial team, the customer portfolio for D328eco™, as well as the legacy D328® business. Providing technology to the most modern standards, in combination with a reduced environmental footprint in operation and production, I believe that the D328eco™ is a fantastic product that will provide operators with the best choice in the market of turboprops up to 50 seats. At the same time this aircraft will be a great replacement for older regional jets up to 70 seats. Deutsche Aircraft have an amazing team of great professionals I am truly honoured to join: I am looking forward to working together with the team towards our goals.”

Deutsche Aircraft says: ”We are very pleased to have Anastasija joining the senior management team whilst we progress with the current programme and research activities”. “Her knowledge of the regional market gained in her previous positions will be an asset for us.”

Deutsche Aircraft’s new D328eco™ is being developed to deliver significant improvements in operational and maintenance costs as well as reductions in the overall carbon footprint. This is in line with their vision and strategic road-map to support a more sustainable future for aviation. The D328eco™ will offer maximum flexibility from normal aviation fuel, to a blend, and up to 100% H2-PtL. H2PtL has a similar CO2 footprint compared with H2 direct burn.

The aircraft will be assembled in the paperless production line at Leipzig/Germany. All parameters are in high demand in the current aviation environment and we already see an increased interest in the D328eco™ from our potential customers and partners.

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Munich 29. June 2022 – The aircraft manufacturer Deutsche Aircraft has reached two milestones in its D328eco project. Together with engineering service provider umlaut, part of Accenture, the wing spar box was digitized and modelled in 3D. The wing spar box connects the wing to the fuselage and supports the leading and trailing edges of the wings, the rudder, the engines and the landing gear. On this basis, the industrialization partner HEGGEMANN AG has optimized the manufacturing processes for Industry 4.0 standards and produced a first prototype of the wing spar box. This proves that the automated production of the D328eco is possible to the extent desired by Deutsche Aircraft.

The D328eco is based on the Dornier 328, an aircraft from the 1990s. The aircraft was still designed in 2D on paper or with limited 3D-based software (CADAM). To be able to further use the design data and adapt it to the goals of the D328eco, it had to be digitized. Deutsche Aircraft chose umlaut for its engineering and aerospace expertise to jointly create a digital twin, which provides an exact copy of the original aircraft design and can also incorporate all the innovations in structural development of the last 30 years. This digital twin serves both as a basis for automated manufacturing and for validating designs, tools, and production processes. According to Simona Naver, Program Manager at Deutsche Aircraft, the data converted from 2D to 3D will also be used for the certification of the new aircraft.

"The DMU makes it much easier for us to optimize designs for industrial production. Thirty years ago, when the original Dornier 328 was built, many things were still done manually. With the D328eco's 3D conversion, we can save material and map production processes more easily and with consistent quality" says Gregory Seymour, development engineer aircraft construction at Deutsche Aircraft.

As part of a "triad", HEGGEMANN AG is also involved in the project. The company is responsible for the industrialization of the wing spar box and uses, among other things, the corresponding 3D design data. To demonstrate that the company can produce aircraft parts automatically and in high quality, the first prototype of the wing spar box was manufactured and tested after a feasibility analysis. "The wing spar box is the most complex part of the airframe. Its fabrication as the first system- level prototype shows that the other parts of the project are on the right track" explains Simona Naver.

After this first system-level prototype, it is clear, on the one hand, that the 3D conversion of the 2D design data and its adaptation to new standards is working as planned. On the other hand, the tools and processes developed by HEGGEMANN AG for the D328eco program have proven their worth. "We have seen that we can have parts for the D328eco manufactured automatically and efficiently. In addition, there is less material surplus with the new manufacturing processes. This also moves us in a sustainable direction and meets the D328eco strategy" says Rosario De Luca, Senior Design Engineer at Deutsche Aircraft.

Now more parts are to be digitized and prepared as CAD/CAM models forproduction, design validation and type certification. The goal is to be able to digitally represent the D328eco in its entirety. umlaut will continue to support the transfer from 2D to 3D and HEGGEMANN AG will strengthen Deutsche Aircraft's D328eco program with wings and landing gear.

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Deutsche Aircraft is setting a course for a more sustainable era in aviation by developing a dedicated flight test laboratory to investigate future propulsion technology and emerging energy sources. In conjunction with research and government institutions such as the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) and the German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI), the objective is to achieve low-emission flight.

By leveraging the strength of the D328® airframe, this initiative will enable flight test maturation of key technologies and contribute directly to future commercial applications.

Government-backed Initiatives for Sustainable Aviation

Germany’s Federal Government is an active supporter of ventures that aim to minimise carbon emissions and the environmental impact of air travel. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK) funds numerous research and technology development projects through its LuFo Klima Civil Aviation Research Programme.

The objective of LuFo Klima is to strengthen innovation and expertise in research, development and production, propelling the aviation industry towards carbon neutrality and climate compatibility with the long-term goal of creating a sustainable, economical and efficient air transport system.

This research programme aims to develop technologies for the climate-neutral aviation system of the future with a focus on integrated research and technological competitiveness.

Many of Deutsche Aircraft’s projects focusing on future flight technologies are co-funded by the BMWK and include significant contributions from project partners.

Objectives of the LuFo Klima Civil Aviation Research Programme

- Support Germany’s State and Federal strategic goals towards achieving climate-neutral aviation.

- Work hand-in-hand with industrial partners, universities and research institutions within the industry to develop systems and technologies that enable a sustainable aviation future.

- Gather experimental data on low and zero emission ground and flight operation.

- Obtain first-hand knowledge of airframe integration challenges to guide current and future aircraft design.

- Develop in-house expertise on emerging technologies to mitigate risks associated with technology selection and integration.

D328ALPHA: Pioneering Next-Generation Propulsion Systems

The objective of the D328ALPHA programme is to explore and develop technologies aimed at reducing emissions. This one-off modification of the D328® airframe will be used to evaluate, refine and flight-test promising innovations in sustainable aviation.

By developing a modular flight test aircraft with an initial focus on 1.5MW class electric propulsion systems, powered by an onboard liquid hydrogen fuel cell system, this will mature relevant technologies to Technical Readiness Level 6.  

In September 2023, the D328ALPHA technology demonstrator was presented at the E2FLIGHT Emission Free and Electric Flight Conference organised by the DLR and the University of Stuttgart, highlighting its significance in the pursuit of sustainable solutions.

An extensive wind tunnel test campaign was completed in October 2023, providing valuable insights into the aerodynamic integration of the next-generation propulsion system. Tests conducted over a 9-week period evaluated parameters such as propulsive power, stability, control and performance across different flight scenarios. The results will allow Deutsche Aircraft to refine their engineering flight simulator.

D328® UpLift: Trailblazing Disruptive Technology for Climate-Friendly Aviation

The UpLift project demonstrates industry-wide cooperation toward carbon-neutral aviation, with the D328® serving as a catalyst for research into alternative propulsion systems.

In collaboration with the DLR and the BDLI, Deutsche Aircraft will leverage its expertise as an aircraft manufacturer to convert the D328® into a testbed for the research of cutting-edge propulsion, fuel and system technologies under real flight conditions. Funded by a grant from the BMWK, the UpLift project is poised to accelerate innovation and drive forward advancements in sustainable aviation.

As part of experimental campaigns to measure CO2 emissions, the UpLift test laboratory will be equipped with state-of-the-art avionics systems and temporarily modified engines that are capable of running on sustainable fuels, bridging the gap between research and practical application. This is a unique opportunity to test disruptive approaches in the development of new propulsion systems including hybrid-electric concepts and novel fuels, and these far-reaching, universally usable basic modifications will accelerate research and development towards near carbon neutral  flight.

The versatility and efficiency of the D328® is a perfect match for the UpLift initiative. Certified under EASA’s CS-25 (Large Aeroplanes) specifications, the turboprop entered into service in 1991 and is an ideal platform for evaluating innovative propulsion technologies due to its superior performance, robustness and design characteristics. This aircraft is still an integral part of many regional fleets around the world, which will also provide valuable reference values for the evaluation of new technologies.

"The UpLift flying test laboratory is a key industrial policy project for climate-friendly flying and Germany's sustainable development,” says Dr. Anna Christmann, Coordinator for Aerospace Policy of the German Federal Government. “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 contract was signed at the 2023 Paris Air Show and the new livery was unveiled at the National Aviation Conference in Hamburg in September 2023. In June 2024, the UpLift project will make its debut at ILA Berlin, the leading aerospace trade fair in Germany and Europe.

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

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.

While the recent launch of the CAvIA project marks another pivotal step forward, the rigorous testing for the D328ALPHA continues and the conversion of the UpLift flight lab is well on its way. These remarkable advancements represent significant milestones in our pursuit of climate-neutral flights and the maturation of aviation technology for tomorrow.

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- Deutsche Aircraft and Sasol ecoFT sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance Power-to-Liquid as a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (PtL-SAF / H2-SAF(PTL))

- Both partners recognize the urgency of climate mitigation

- Existing Fischer-Tropsch fuels will be used to expedite technology development and production ramp-up, with the ultimate goal to enable a carbon-neutral fuel for the D328eco

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Munich/Johannesburg, 22 June 2022 - German aircraft manufacturer Deutsche Aircraft and South African chemicals and energy company Sasol have signed a MoU on advancing technology for green hydrogen-based PtL-SAF in aviation. Sasol ecoFT and Deutsche Aircraft have both recognized the urgency in transitioning towards climate neutral aviation. The two companies thus plan to foster the certification of sustainable drop-in and non-drop-in jet fuels, more particularly the ramp-up of PtL SAF for aviation.

With its D328eco program, Deutsche Aircraft is working on an aircraft in the under 40-seat market, that will achieve near carbon neutrality. The aircraft that is scheduled to be certified in 2026 will be able to use 100% H2-SAF (PtL) on top of any other certified sustainable aviation fuel and regular kerosene.

Sasol ecoFT is an ideal partner for that task as the South African company is the world leader in FT (Fischer-Tropsch) technology. Sasol ecoFT leverages Sasol’s extensive FT experience, proprietary technology, and catalysts to produce sustainable fuels and chemicals via Power-to-X processes. ‍

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From a fossil heritage to a sustainable future

"Sasol ecoFT and Deutsche Aircraft stand at the beginning of a decarbonization journey. We both have products originally designed in the age of fossil fuels. Together we can develop rapid solutions to combat climate change by improving our products while building on our heritage and expertise." comments Regina Pouzolz, Head of Sustainability of Deutsche Aircraft.

PtL-SAF is a scalable, and thus long-term solution to minimize the carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) footprint of aviation. The process uses for example CO 2 recycled from regular air, and hydrogen, produced with green energy, to form a synthetic fuel. Fuels manufactured like this still have the similar characteristics as regular kerosene: high energy density at low volume, proven safety, and distribution by established infrastructure. Furthermore, these fuels contain less aromatics and sulphur, thus improve local air quality and reduce the high-altitude impact of aviation.

Deutsche Aircraft and Sasol will not only work on technology and production aspects of H2-SAF (PtL), but also aim at a certification for this type of fuel to be used as drop-in or non-drop-in jet fuel.

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From Coal-to-Liquid to PtL-SAF‍

PtL-SAF is chemically similar to Coal-to-Liquid (CtL), in which Sasol has deep global experience at deploying at industrial scale. As a first step of their partnership Sasol ecoFT and Deutsche Aircraft will explore the compatibility of materials and system components with blended synthetic fuels produced through Sasol’s FT technology currently applied in its existing CtL process. The priority of this aspect of the project is to expedite the certification of more sustainable PtL-SAF options.

"We are extremely excited about the partnership with Deutsche Aircraft as we take a holistic approach to climate-neutral aviation by looking at the whole value chain from fuel production up to aircraft system level. Joining forces between aircraft manufacturers and fuel producers is vital, if we want to ensure that aviation becomes sustainable, while ensuring the highest possible safety standards." concluded Helge Sachs, Senior Vice President, of Sasol ecoFT.

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We at Deutsche Aircraft are always looking to bring our message of sustainable and innovative aviation to our greater audience. The ILA Berlin Air Show is where major aerospace industry officials and an estimated 150,000 visitors come together to spark a dialogue around the latest aviation technology.

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Today, we had the immense honour of welcoming Olaf Scholz to our pavilion. We discussed how Deutsche Aircraft is working towards climate-neutral aviation solutions through the development of our D328ecoTM.  VP of Operations and Programmes Nico Neumann, CCO Nico Buchholz, VP Human Resources Christoph Rümmele alongside our Managing Director Dave Jackson met with Olaf Scholz. ILA Berlin 2022 is truly a global event, and Deutsche Aircraft is excited to be working alongside international leaders and key industry players to bring sustainable aviation to the runway—now.  The journey to accessible, economical, and sustainable aviation starts here!

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MUNICH/LONGUEUIL, QUEBEC, 17. June 2022 - Deutsche Aircraft and Pratt & Whitney Canada, a business unit of Pratt & Whitney, announced today that the PW127XT-S engine has been selected to power the D328eco regional turboprop. The engine will be another model in the XT series which sets a new benchmark in regional aviation, delivering a significant improvement in operating costs and sustainability. The PW127XT-S will be developed according to the D328eco timeline.

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“We have worked closely with the D328eco team over a number of years to develop the best engine option for the aircraft,” says Maria Della Posta, president of Pratt & Whitney Canada. “The PW127XT-S provides airlines 40 percent more time on wing, a 20 percent reduction in maintenance costs with only two scheduled events over 10 years, and a 3 percent improvement in specific fuel consumption. We support Deutsche Aircraft’s vision of building a green aviation company and we’re confident that the PW127XT-S is the ideal match for the D328eco.”

“In addition to the engine selection announced today, Deutsche Aircraft and Pratt & Whitney Canada will collaborate on novel propulsion technologies for next generation, climate friendly, highly efficient regional aircraft,” says Dave Jackson, managing director, Deutsche Aircraft. “Turboprop technology remains the most efficient and eco-friendly form of regional air transport available in the world. Our two companies recently agreed to cooperate on enabling the PW127XT-S engine powering the D328eco to run on a 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) including hydrogen-based Power-to-Liquid (PtL) fuel.”

In fact, modern regional turboprops consume 40 percent less fuel and emit 40 percent less CO2 emissions than most in-service regional jets on flights up to 400 nautical miles. Both companies are convinced of the need to further invest in this segment to continue to improve efficiency and reduce the impact on the environment. Pratt & Whitney Canada and Deutsche Aircraft agreed to continue working together to jointly develop a technology roadmap for implementation, test, and verification of Pratt & Whitney Canada’s innovative propulsion technology, within the D328eco program.

Specifically, the roadmap will focus on the capability to operate the two most promising net zero / zero CO2 fuels: PtL and hydrogen, respectively. The parties will assess the impact of these fuels and related technologies and operations to derive the requirements and solutions for the application.

Added Jackson: “We seek not only to achieve the maximum CO2 emissions reduction possible, but also look for real operative propulsion efficiency improvements compared to today’s technology. This would mean a reduction in the order of 15 to 25 percent block energy on a typical regional mission.”

Concluded Della Posta: “It is key that the major airframe and engine OEMs set out ambitious yet realistic timelines and capabilities to use novel propulsion technologies in combination with de-carbonized fuel capabilities. Pratt & Whitney Canada is committed to continuous improvements in the efficiency and sustainability of its products and services, for customers in all market segments.”

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Steady Progress!

It is with great pleasure that I write to you again today.

In our last newsletter, we discussed the progression of new offices and building space in Oberpfaffenhofen as well as several other relevant topics. Today, the focus would be to update you on our product and program development, as well as latest organization build up.

First of all, we held our first Customer Advisory Boards (CAB) at the end of last year. More than 10 participating companies attended from all continents providing valuable feedback which we are integrating into the aircraft design, to further enhance the attractive proposition of the D328ecoTM. The feedback covered design and operational topics. Lively discussions and presentations of all topics important to a customer closed some of the interviews we had.

With these further elements in hand together with the work of the engineering, program and supply chain teams we were also able to conclude our PDR – Product Design Review - last month, with a significantly enhanced product which we will further report in this newsletter.

The concept phase and the customer feedback from our recent CAB took us a step further in regard to the D328eco development as we managed to enhance our product not only through the feedback of potential customers but also via advanced discussion with some of our key suppliers.

Further aerodynamic studies and wind tunnel testing work on the D328eco program have successfully been carried out. This marks the first achievement of a long series of in-situ tests where results and progress will be regularly highlighted over the coming months by the team.

Another milestone recently achieved as regards the production process, was the creation of a digital twin and physical demonstrator of the wing spar box together with umlaut, and manufacturing partner HEGGEMANN. As an outcome, a production of the wing spar box has been proven to be possible in an efficient highly automated and sustainable way.

As a result of all the hard work, our teams have successfully achieved the current program milestones, and further adjustments, as a result of the design review and inputs received from customers and suppliers, we are now targeting the D328eco certification towards in the second half of 2026.

In line with this progress and the continued ramp up of our teams, we have recently opened the hiring process for the Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Leipzig, where ground breaking is planned for the end of 2022/beginning of 2023.

Last but not least, I am also pleased to announce important enhancement in our senior leadership team, with the recent addition of Nico Buchholz as acting Chief Commercial Officer.

Combining all of the above you can understand why we can be proud and thrilled about the progress we have made, and are looking forward to an exciting future. Currently we are preparing ourselves for the upcoming conferences and airshows in ILA Berlin (22 – 26 June) and Farnborough Air Show (18 – 22 July) where Deutsche Aircraft will be present.

Enjoy the read,

Dave Jackson.

Organization Strengthening

In order to enhance our global commercial footprint we are pleased to announce Nico Buchholz as part of the leadership team as acting Chief Commercial Officer. Nico has already been providing consulting support to Deutsche Aircraft and is also familiar with many of the topics and challenges we are currently working on. His key responsibilities at Deutsche Aircraft will be the management of the aircraft sales process – including contracts and marketing support, as well as external communications.

Nico’s extensive industry experience includes work with Airbus, Bombardier, Delta, GOAL, Lufthansa and others where he held senior positions in Marketing and Sales, Customer business, procurement, strategy and fleet management as well as board positions. Nico also runs his own business and is a coach for several start-ups in the aviation field.

Following the recent completion of the Preliminary Design Review phase. We are now moving towards CDR and our industrialization activities. This is aimed at embracing new technology opportunities and blending these into the D328eco. As a consequence of these developments, Martin Nüßeler is leaving the company to explore new opportunities. We appreciate his contribution towards the program and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

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Finally, due to personal reasons, Jose Costas, Vice President Sales & Marketing, has decided to relocate back to Lisbon where he will continue to provide ongoing sales support in a consulting capacity. We would like to thank him for the contribution during his time at Deutsche Aircraft, in Oberpfaffenhofen.

Engineering / program updates

The D328eco program just completed the Concept Phase and is now entering the Detailed Design Phase. Focus on the derivate development in the first key phase of the program was on justification of the aircraft configuration with the stretched fuselage by analysis and wind tunnel campaigns. Major progress was made towards the full digitalisation of the airframe. A crucial step to ensure a successful industrial set up of the aircraft, which includes but is not limited to 2D/3D activities, definition dossier and new systems architectures development.

On the supply chain side, we have seen a raising interest from the industry and received positive and constructive feedback from key partners supporting the program on the airframe, propulsion and system level. Being able to rely upon key partners which have shown high level of commitment to the Program, despite the current global geopolitical situation crisis the world is facing.

Further aerodynamic studies and wind tunnel testing work on the D328eco program have successfully been carried out.

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Last but not least, the new FAL concept for the building located in Leipzig Airport was completed and phase 2 of the building specification successfully achieved.

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• An important step towards climate-neutral passenger aircraft.

• Promising hydrogen fuel cell system in the megawatt range is being developed and will be demonstrated in flight by 2025.

• Ten partners from science and industry are thus jointly promoting flying with hydrogen.

• A Dornier 328 is to become a demonstration aircraft for climate-neutral flights in the EASA large aircraft class ("CS25").

• Participating DLR spin-off H2FLY strengthens DLR's strategic position in the field of technology transfer.

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The climate-neutral aviation of tomorrow needs CO2-free propulsion technologies. For regional aircraft, hydrogen-electric propulsion systems with hydrogen fuel cell technology offer a promising option. This technology is now receiving a strong boost from the "328H2-FC" project. Led by the German Aerospace Center ((Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) in cooperation with H2FLY, Deutsche Aircraft, Diehl Aviation and six other partners, the project is the first to develop a fuel cell system with with a power output of one and a half megawatts for use in flight. The project opens up a technological perspective for future regional aircrafts in the 40-seater class. At the beginning of 2022, The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz; BMWK) handed over the funding notification. The BMWK is funding the realisation of the first megawatt hydrogen fuel cell system for air transport with approximately 30 million Euros.

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Within the framework of the partnership, a Dornier 328 aircraft will be converted to be used for hydrogen-electric passenger flights for the first time. This involves the electrification of the powertrain and the integration of a fuel cell system, including a cooling system and a liquid hydrogen tank.. The "328H2-FC" project paves the way for proving the potential of hydrogen for climate-neutral air travel. The unique hybrid-electric powered demonstration aircraft for EASA's large aircraft class ("CS25") is scheduled to take off for the first time in 2025. Before that, tests of the fuel cell system are planned using a new ground-based test facility at DLR.

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Prof. Dr. Josef Kallo, co-founder and CEO of H2FLY: "With this funding, H2FLY will extend its lead as a global technology leader in the field of hydrogen-electric propulsion. Flying with hydrogen without CO2 emissions will become a reality."

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Dr Anna Christmann Member of the Bundestag (Federal Parliament) and Federal Government Coordinator of German Aerospace Policy: "H2FLY is an important building block for the future strategy of emission-free aviation. With the project funded by the BMWK, we have the unique opportunity to further expand the technological lead in flying with hydrogen here in Germany. With our funding, we are enabling research to overcome the technical challenges of using hydrogen in aviation."

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Prof. André Thess, Director of the DLR Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics:: "With a fuel cell that generates more than one megawatt of power, we are pushing open the door to climate-neutral passenger aviation without CO2 emissions. At DLR's Stuttgart site, we will test the new technology extensively before moving on to aircraft integration and initial flight tests. By the end of the decade, such passenger aircrafts could already be in commercial operation."

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Martin Nüßeler, CTO of Deutsche Aircraft: "Our Dornier 328 is the optimal platform for demonstrating the new fuel cell technology. We can thus bring technology into real environmental conditions and accelerate our path towards climate-neutral aviation."

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Benno Petersen, Head of Innovation and R&T at Diehl Aerospace: "Our company is participating in the 328H2-FC project with extensive research packages. In this way, we are impressively documenting our interest in this forward-looking propulsion technology and underlining the important role that the equipment industry plays in the development of such innovative systems."

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In cruise flight, the use of the hydrogen fuel cell energy system enables the aircraft to operate without emitting carbon dioxide, which means that a large part of the flight distance can be covered in a completely climate-neutral manner. For the energy-intensive take-off, a gas turbine will initially provide additional thrust as part of the testing in the hybrid-electric concept.

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The project as a whole thrives on the cooperation in a strong partner network of DLR, H2FLY, Deutsche Aircraft and Diehl Aviation (incl. Diehl Aerospace). Other project‘s partners are AKG Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Bauhaus Luftfahrt e.V., GE Aviation, HS Elektronik GmbH, Industrieanlagen-Betriebsgesellschaft mbH and Premium Aerotec GmbH.

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BMWK funding for the 328H2-FC project is provided within the framework of the aeronautics research programme (LuFo VI-2). The joint project leader is DLR. The project builds on the predecessor projects 328eHY-LAB and 328eHY-TECH (LuFo VI-1) led by Deutsche Aircraft.

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I am pleased to once again present you with some exciting updates about Deutsche Aircraft’s work and progress for the past few months.

Last December, we celebrated Deutsche Aircraft’s 1st year anniversary and the 30 years of D328 first flight online, and also attended and presented at the Hamburg Aviation Forum.

We are also happy to announce that we completed our first Customer Advisory Board, with a number of key airlines from around the world, and successfully gathered valuable feedback for the D328eco development.

Sustainability is always at the heart of the entire Deutsche Aircraft operation. We not only focus on developing an environmentally friendly aircraft, but we also dedicate the entire organization towards comprehensive sustainability goals. We are pleased to announce that Deutsche Aircraft obtained 3 EN ISO certificates, and also established a Sustainability Board, to facilitate implementation across all departments.

We continue to work with important partners in development, most recently we  highlighted our collaboration with the North Energy Cluster in Norway, aiming to develop solutions that will accelerate the availability of climate-neutral aviation technologies.

Last but not least, we are still growing! We welcome Patricia, Tim, Thomas and many other great talent to join Deutsche Aircraft. To accommodate this growth, we will be expanding into additional offices and facilities at Oberpfaffenhofen.

Enjoy the read!

Dave Jackson, Managing Director of Deutsche Aircraft

Deutsche Aircraft Achievements and Progresses

On 7th December 2021, we celebrate the one-year anniversary of Deutsche Aircraft. Coincidently it was also the 30th anniversary of the first flight of our legacy – D328-100 Turboprop aircraft. On the same day, we were invited to be panellist in the Hamburg Aviation Forum where our CTO Martin Nussler was part of the panel.

We are also proud to announce that we obtained three certifications according to international standards: EN 9100:2018 (former AS 9100D), including the requirements of EN ISO 9001:2015, and EN ISO 14001:2015. They demonstrate Deutsche Aircraft’s commitments to continuously improving its quality performance while reducing the environmental footprint of its operations and services, as well as taking concrete action to combat climate change.

D328® In Service Fleet Updates

Our hangar was busy for the past quarter. Among our work, we are pleased to highlight some of the achievements of our team:

• We had Botswana Defense Force aircraft Do328-100 in for heavy maintenance (Phase 5), ADS-B upgrade and Installation of a modification for operation on unpaved Runways. Aircraft was released early December.
• We performed heavy maintenance on Do328-100 from AeroRescue, which included a complete Repainting & EASA Registration and delivered it to an special mission operator in mid January.
• We delivered to Private Wings’ repainted Do328-100 aircraft D-CAWA in cooperation with GA-ATS Oberpfaffenhofen.

D328ecoTM

The development of our D328eco platform keeps on progressing. We have announced several key suppliers, important strategic partnerships and we also completed the first Customer Advisory Board.

The key suppliers we have announced in the past few months are SupplyOn for Deutsche Aircraft’s digital supply chain management, Factory Design for the interior design, and DMD Solutions for support in certification.

We also teamed up with the North Energy Cluster (NEC/Energi I Nord) to achieve substantial short-term reductions of Northern Norway’s aviation climate footprint through low-carbon e-fuels. And in the mid-term, we aim to develop solutions to achieve zero climate impact.

Our Customer Advisory Board (CAB) was the first-ever online CAB. Due to current travel limitations and safety measures, we set up a virtual, interactive platform for our CAB members to engage meaningfully, including a pre-conference interactions, live sessions discussions with our senior management and Engineering teams, interactive 3D D328eco models. We collected valuable inputs from aircraft operators and leasing companies covering all 5 continents, to which will be taken into consideration as the program advances towards conclusion of PDR – Preliminary Design Review - phase.

Meet our Team

We are delighted to introduce you to more new talent in our team. This quarter, please meet Thomas Ahn, Chief Engineer, Patricia Ferrari, Head of Procurement and Tim Otte, Head of Flight Test.

Thomas Ahn

Thomas joined Deutsche Aircraft in January as the Chief Engineer for the D328eco program. He has had an extensive career in the aerospace industry with renowned companies such as Bombardier, Airbus deHavilland, Dornier and Grob Aircraft, where he held lead engineering positions in aircraft product development. The last 20 years have been mostly in Canada as the Chief Aircraft Integrator for Bombardier Aviation. In this role he was responsible for the aircraft configuration development of regional aircraft, commercial jets and business jets. Interesting to note though, his career started out 34 years ago in the Future Projects team of Dornier, defining the original concept of the Dornier 328!

Thomas holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from Augsburg University of Applied Sciences and had worked for several years as an aircraft mechanic prior to pursuing his engineering interests.

Tim Otte

Tim brings more than 30 years of experience in various aerospace companies and in different leading positions, ranging from civil programs like the Dornier 328 and 728 to a number of military programs such as Eurofighter, Tornado and A400M. In all positions the technical domains covered were flight physics, simulation, ground & flight test and/or aircraft systems. Tim studied Aerospace Engineering and started his career at Dornier.

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Patricia Ferrari

Patricia joined Deutsche Aircraft as the Head of Procurement. She was the vice president of supply chain of the Embraer Company. Appointed to the position in March 2018, she led the complete supply chain management organization to support Embraer business units. She coordinated operational activities resulting in cost-cutting measures, improved supplier performance and guaranteeing compliance.

Patricia holds a bachelor’s degree in Production Engineer Materials from the University of São Carlos as well as a master’s in Production Engineer.

With our rapid ramp up of employees to support our growth we are already using 9 buildings in Oberpfaffenhofen. To streamline our internal efficiency we along with our growth have secured an additional 3200m2 of office space in a brand new building that will be completed in Q4 this year. With the expansion of our facilities footprint, we aim to provide our growing team great working environments.

We are still hiring! Visit our career page and follow us on Linkedin to find our open positions.

Deutsche Aircraft Aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals

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As part of its strategic focus on Sustainability, Deutsche Aircraft makes the globally recognized Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations its guiding principle for all business operations. To that end, a cross-departmental Sustainability Board was founded in December 2021. The board co-creates the company‘s Sustainability Strategy and steers its implementation across the company. Representatives from all departments meet bi-monthly and exchange on current developments in politics and society, collect and prioritize proposals of employees and coordinate corporate actions and communication. With the help of the Sustainability Board, Deutsche Aircraft does not only focus on developing and producing a sustainable aircraft, but also has a comprehensive approach to meet the selected UN Sustainable Development Goals with contributions from the entire organization.

Deutsche Aircraft in the News

This quarter, Deutsche Aircraft continued to increase its media coverage in key business and aviation media outlets. Here are some highlights of coverages of our past announcements. Enjoy the read!

Deutsche Aircraft collaborates with FactoryDesign to design the next-generation sustainable cabin interior with exceptional comfort for their D328ecoTM regional aircraft (Feb, 2022)

•   Deutsche Aircraft signs deal for D328eco aircraft interiors, Aerospace Manufacturing

•    Deutsche and Factorydesign collaborate on sustainable interiors, Aircraft Interiors International

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‍Pioneering German-Norwegian cooperation will make regional Norwegian aviation a world leader in the transition to climate-neutrality (March 2022)

•   Deutsche Aircraft’s 328eco Gets Boost from Norway, AIN

•   Deutsche Aircraft kooperiert mit norwegischer NEC, Flug Revue

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Deutsche Aircraft receives three certifications to confirm quality and environmental standards (March 2022)

•   Deutsche Aircraft Receives Three Certifications to Confirm Quality and Environmental Standards

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München 29. March 2022 – The Icelandic airline Eagle Air and the German aircraft manufacturer Deutsche Aircraft have announced a renewal of their support contract for maintenance repair and operations. Deutsche Aircraft will continue to provide maintenance for the Do 328-110 of Eagle Air. The companies have already had a similar agreement running since February 2020. The contract renewal will span another two years.

The Scandinavian multi role airline has been using a Do 328 turboprop since the summer of 2018. It is mainly used for passenger transport within the island. The manufacturer will conduct the maintenance procedures at the Deutsche Aircraft facilities at Oberpfaffenhofen airport near Munich.

“As we operate our Do 328 on a variety of missions within Iceland, we need a reliable maintenance service provider to guarantee operational readiness of the flagship of our fleet. Over the last two years Deutsche Aircraft has proven to be that partner. We are happy to extend the maintenance contract for a further two years,” says Björn S Eggertsson, Technical Manger Eagle Air.

Dave Jackson, Managing Director of Deutsche Aircraft adds: “We have supported Eagle Air with the maintenance since their 50-year-anniversary as an airline in 2020. We are proud to keep working with a reliable and professional business partner. “

MUNICH, 16th March 2022 – Deutsche Aircraft GmbH announces that it has obtained three certifications according to international standards. These confirm the commitment of Deutsche Aircraft of adhering to the highest international quality and environmental standards to ensure constant and sustainable growth.

Recent audit results in accordance with EN 9100:2018 (former AS 9100D), including the requirements of EN ISO 9001:2015, enhances Deutsche Aircraft highest’s quality management standards and brings valuable benefits to the company.

Receiving the EN ISO 14001:2015 environmental standards certification for the first time confirms Deutsche Aircraft’s establishment and application to an Environmental Management System which covers design, production, maintenance and completion of the Dornier 328 Series Aircraft, including worldwide customer support and supply chain as well as management for operators. 

The EN ISO certificates are world’s highest and most recognized standard of quality and environmental management. They demonstrate Deutsche Aircraft’s commitments to continuously improving its quality performance while reducing the environmental footprint of its operations and services, as well as taking concrete action to combat climate change. 

Confirming company-wide state of the art management systems 

Along with its compliance to the current regulations for health protection and occupational safety, Deutsche Aircraft is committing towards stronger environmental goals and objectives. Deutsche Aircraft also takes one step ahead by placing a more rigorous attention upon its suppliers and partners’ selection and is aiming to develop more sustainability-driven processes with higher efficiency and cost savings. 

Dave Jackson, Managing Director of Deutsche Aircraft, said: “We are very proud to have been awarded with these three certifications. It is a reward for the team, confirming the outstanding work we have put into our internal processes to meet global standards and better support the ongoing development of the D328eco™. Our mission is to use the D328eco to drive aviation's transition to more sustainable flights. This goes hand in hand with consequent health protection and occupational safety.”

Deutsche Aircraft fully commits to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

As a purpose-driven OEM, Deutsche Aircraft is committed to operating as a responsible business by aligning its strategy with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Those are part of a global effort to change the corporate strategy and to support customers' efforts into more environmentally focused strategies to help companies reduce their environmental impact. This includes all aspects of quality management and customer satisfaction, as well as detailed and rigorously enforced health, safety and environmental protocols throughout the organisation.

To meet these requirements and improve performance, Deutsche Aircraft regularly provides comprehensive internal training opportunities for all employees to ensure that all departments comply with the latest health, safety and environmental standards. More than a year ago, Deutsche Aircraft also established a dedicated "Sustainability Team" to support the efforts of aligning with these processes both internally and externally.

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Munich/Bodø, 14th of March 2022. The German aircraft manufacturer Deutsche Aircraft (DA) and the North Energy Cluster (NEC), based in Northern Norway have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) stating their common goal to develop solutions that will accelerate the availability of climate-neutral aviation technologies. The cooperation of the two partners will achieve substantial short-term reductions of Northern Norway’s aviation climate footprint throughlow-carbon e-fuels. Furthermore, the partners agree to develop solutions to achieve zero climate impact in the mid-term.

Key Facts

• Norwegian energy cluster disposes of abundant, low-cost renewable energy and the necessary infrastructure to ramp up production of low-carbon e-fuels
• Deutsche Aircraft as a German turboprop aircraft manufacturer is on the forefront of developing a 100% e-fuel compatible aircraft
• The cooperation lays the ground for eliminating aviation’s climate impact, aviation being an essential infrastructure for Northern Norway

MartinNüßeler, Chief Technology Officer of DA:

“This partnership brings us a big stepcloser to climate-neutral flight.”

AndersTørud, Cluster Manager of NEC:

“We have the best possible ecosystem in NorthernNorway to make low carbon e-fuels a reality”

VolkerThum, Chief Executive Officer of the German Aerospace Industries Association(BDLI):

"Green flying is the future and it has already begun.”

Munich-based DA is developing a low-emission regional aircraft based on the Dornier DO328 platform well known to regional air travelers all over the world. The D328eco will achieve near carbon-neutral flight in the below 50 seats market with its state-of-the-art technologies and full compatibility with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Beyond the D328eco, DA is also studying alternative propulsion technologies based on hydrogen for future programs.

The North Energy Cluster/Energi i Nord is comprised of industrial players such as major wind and hydropower producers, technology suppliers, electrochemical companies as well as the aviation sector and local communities that are determined to take the lead in the energy transition in several sectors including aviation.

Northern Norway is a vast and secluded territory. Its network of 26 regional airports is critical infrastructure, more so than anywhere else in Europe. Coupled with Northern Norway’s excess of low-cost renewable energy vital for e-fuel production, it makes for the ideal testing ground for new concepts within climate-neutral aviation. The initiative intends to produce e-fuels using industrial CO2 point sources as a first step which will later be substituted by direct air capture powered by the abundant renewable energy to minimize lifecycle emissions.

By conducting test flights and studying ground infrastructure requirements for the production of e-fuels, the partnership will pave the way towards Northern Norway becoming a leader nationally and internally in the enormous transformation aviation is facing. The cluster will also collaborate with the Lofoten project “The green islands”, an ambitious roadmap to bring sustainable tourism to one of the most scenic and untouched regions of Norway. In his context, short-haul routes on the Lofoten archipelago will be among the first to be operated with alternative fuels.

Comments:

Anders Tørud, Cluster Manager of NEC:

“E-fuels and hydrogen produced from renewable energies remain the most promising scalable solutions to significantly reduce emissions in one of the most hard-to-abate sectors such as aviation. What is key to make it happen, is to bring down production costs through scale and we have the right ecosystem in Northern Norway to do so.”

Martin Nuesseler, Chief Technology Officer of DA:

“A significant factor for the environmental performance of the next generation of aircraft is how fuels are produced. Our ambition at Deutsche Aircraft is therefore to think aircraft operation in conjunction with fuel production to achieve an optimal result for the environment. The challenge for e-fuels is the energy-intensive production process which means that you need to go where you can find abundant renewable energy. Regional aviation contributes on a daily basis to the economic functioning of Northern Norway and provides enormous societal benefits. We want to show that you can achieve this without inflicting harm on our environment.

Combining the modern turboprop D328eco efficiency with a 100% SAF capability represents the best way to update the market with a green aircraft in the shortest time possible. “

Volker Thum, Chief Executive Officer of the German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI):

"Green flying is the future and it has already begun. This is also demonstrated by the cooperation between our member Deutsche Aircraft and Energi i Nord. The introduction of Sustainable Aviation Fuels and in the long-term hydrogen can contribute significantly to the realization of climate-neutral flight. The transformation of civil aviation towards climate neutrality, in which sustainable aviation fuels are indispensable, will be the focus of ILA Berlin. This leading trade show of our industry on sustainability, new technologies and innovation will take place from the 22nd until the 26th of June 2022."

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On this International Women's Day, we take time to recognize and celebrate the contribution of women around the world with a special thank you to those in our industry.

Statistically speaking, Aviation still is a male-dominated industry, despite that, Deutsche Aircraft is privileged to have extremely successful female leaders. So we've invited Regina Pouzolz, Head of Sustainability, Claudia Juricic, Head of Material & Processes and Patrícia Ferrari, Head of Procurement to answer some questions and share their experiences and suggestions to young female leaders.

We’ve prepared a few highlights of our conversation, and if you want to hear it in full, make sure to listen to our Podcast.

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As a female engineer, have you encountered any challenges during your work and studies?

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Regina:

I think that engineers, technicians, physicians, they're all so passionate about technology, but at least that's how I feel it that it's not so much a matter of if people are a man or a woman, or I don't know, whatever its passion for technology that drives the people. And that's in the focus. And so you always have a discussion that is really around technical topics. But I think there are few role models, that is a problem for me. So that's why I also like participating in this because I never had any women in front of me that I had in mind. In my family, there was no engineer. And even my mother would ask me why I would do such a harsh topic. So I think it's a good idea to have role models.

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And what about Patricia, do you do you have role models? Or when you choose to choose to join engineering or join this field?

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Patricia:

No, I hadn't as well. I had when I decided to join the STEM. Though, at that time, no role models. I believe that during my career, I started to look to some other colleagues and see them as role models when I was still in new in the carrer and I always look for good examples male or female, and I believe that ours helped it because being a woman, I'd have not faced anything during university I believe it's equal for for everybody. When I started working, also, I think was the same but once I started to grow in my career and going for a more leadership position. I can tell you that sometimes I felt that a little bit because our industry is still male dominant. And sometimes being the only woman in leadership meetings. It's sometimes it's more about us, you know, you feel sometimes that everybody's judging you. I think we ask too much from ourselves from us then from the outside. So I think that we face a little bit that we are too demanding to ourselves, to change ourselves, we wanted to be very competent, and we need to we want to show that we don't want anybody to think anything else about us. So I think we are I felt that a little bit until I will have my, my space. No, really, my grounds done.

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Claudia:

I totally agree, Patricia, totally agree. I mean, to be honest, I really don't remember that I have faced problems or challenges because I'm a woman, I mean, never. But on the other hand, I had a lot of situations where I also was alone in these meetings only guys, or even older, let's say maybe older men from the, let's say, old grown up, period. And then you need a little bit to adjust your behaviour. And, but this at the end it was also fine. So I also in the school or university, there was never, let's say, challenge for me only because I'm a woman.

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So, Claudia, you mentioned that you might have to change the behaviour a bit to adopt? Can you give an example like what kind of change?

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Claudia:

I’ll give you an example. So when I come into the meeting room, then I take my laptop and, but use a lot of space and so on to show how important I am. And this is this? Yeah. Because usually, we women, we are, very sometimes talk very silently and sit in here. And this is what you have to show to the guy say, yeah, there was one this that was really funny, there was one moment, there was also another lady walks in a meeting. And we both were sitting already prepared for the meeting. And then the guys were still standing around and chatting here and chatting that and then there was one guy, he wanted to let the other guys know that he is, you know, had a good relationship with the big boss and so on. And then, after a while, we got we took a look on the time and also and then this lady, she smashed her hand on the table and said, Are we ready now to start the meeting? Yeah. And so this, of course, I think you also you have a lot of stories in there. This is what I mean was you have to adapt your behaviour. Also that you also understand the guys that this is needed for them. Yeah, they must, you know, it's this levelling, and how about positions and influence and, and strains and so on, they have to, I think they need to exchange this much more than we, I would say.

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Now that you are the role models, do you have some tips for young female leaders?

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Regina

I would like to encourage young women not only to learn how to survive in the male world but also to stick with female values, which are a complement to the male surrounding but of course, we have to be realistic. And if you want to survive, you need to kind of navigate through the existing rules.

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Patricia:

Yeah, I think we I also would encourage the young ladies to really be themselves. I think we can find our ways and keeping the value of being female in a male universe and really get our voice out there. I believe in that. I think that we really can have our space there. And also my advice is that I feel I have been a leader of groups, big groups of different candidates. And I always feel that the men are much more demanding in terms of asking for what they want in terms of career, you know, they ask that want to grow, they ask about the salaries, they complain. And my experience as a leader of girls, they never do that. And I have never done myself doing my career, you know? And that's the reason I believe that when you look for all these statistics, women in leadership, want less than men because we claim less for what we believe it's fair for us. So this is one advice that I will also give to the young lady, don't be shy to ask why do you believe your worth for.

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Lin:

So if I could come to a quick sum up to your suggestion to young woman leaders is that don't be afraid to ask, don't be afraid to claim that you deserve to be more courageous to negotiate for your career. And try to take advantage of the part that will not take advantage sounds like a loaded phrase, but actually tried to establish a woman's way of working and to get the others to acknowledge that woman's way of working is a very complimentary way of working, it's not the dominant, dominating way, but it's another way and it's a great way. And also tried to be assertive in terms of voice and in terms of physical space, when entering a meeting, that's, that's my suggestion from Claudia

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Patricia:

We don't need to dress like a man, we don't need to start wearing makeup. You don't need to become like a man to really to have our space. You still can be very female. And in sometimes it's I have had circumstances where I was very well dressed because we're so important event and you feel that somebody was looking, you need to deal with that as well. But you will. Once you have consistence and you have always a good thing to deliver, you will be respected.

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Is there a trait of your leadership style that you are proud of and would like to share, regardless of gender?

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Regina:

I really try to be integrated in my team. And I firmly believe in the best outcome, is if everybody has had the possibility to contribute and to say something. So if the team decides it will always be the best result. And sometimes that takes more time. And sometimes you don't have the time. So as a leader, you have to stop it and then make a decision that that happens. But in general, I really tried to make everybody participate.

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Claudia:

I mean, I feel so as a leader, as a head of, the most important thing is I think I really managed to do this so, that I'm an enabler for the team you know, not only the boss you know and you know the most important person and so now I'm an enabler I have to I support I have to support the team and that way that they have the freedom to do the job the tasks and the deliveries we really have to perform. And also what I try to let my team know is that is of course I'm I have the lead but that doesn't mean that I know everything the best so I said when they when I always liked this discussion and when they think that they know better than they just let me know and then we have a discussion I can learn we can we know this a mutual learning that's also the reason why I like to have young people in the team now. So coming as a fresh idea in Yeah, this is it's for me extremely important that everybody can say or bring in ideas. And this is something really, I think in the aerospace industry very very important that we have this that we want to help each other and not to hide your knowledge or something so that you have fun and joy to really to share your knowledge and experience. And in the end it's about trust I don't control my team at that sense. Now I don't take a local, when did he came this morning and when did he leave or something like that or whatever

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Patricia:

Claudia said the word that I would say that is “trust”. So I will believe that this is really important from both sides or I need to trust the team. And they need to trust me and know that I will be there to support them on every occasion. And another important characteristic of my leadership style is simplicity. I always try to make the lives of my team easier. So let's simplify let's you know not to ask for hundreds of over-complicated controls or PowerPoint presentations. So I really like the team to feel that I'm trying to make their day by day work easier and lighter, that if they need to share an issue with me that my door is open and they don't need to bring a lot of material to discuss it to come and talk you know, and we will exchange and suggest solutions and try to figure out the best way forward. So I believe it is being very important. Normally in procurement or world we are always overloaded with a lot of things to do. And so I always try to simplify and to be quick on the actions that sometimes prevent them to proceed, for example, there's sometimes a lot of approvals that need to take place. So try always to be fast, because I know that this sometimes it's very important on and on the daily activities so summarising, I would say to us in simplest.

That's all for this amazing interview. If you would like to see and learn more about Deutsche Aircraft and our team, make sure to follow us on LinkedIn and stay alert for news coming soon on www.deutscheaircraft.com.

We are excited to announce that the RAMS engineering team have engaged with Deutsche Aircraft to participate in the certification effort for the Dornier D328eco™ aircraft, a game-changing platform that will align the future of aviation towards a zero-emission flight objective.

The primary focus of the D328eco program is enhancing the Dornier 328 platform and delivering a future proved regional aircraft. The technical mission for the aircraft is based on a clear commitment for more sustainable aviation with significant positive impacts on short-range regional transportation versus today’s standard technologies. The new D328eco aircraft is a derivative of the proven Dornier 328 series aircraft, which is a solid starting point for the certification basis. The technological challenge is in the new powerplant combination and the latest generation avionic suite designed to enhance the in-service Dornier 328 into a more sustainable regional and multi-mission aircraft equipped to meet the future challenges of the market.

DMD Solutions and Deutsche Aircraft have agreed on a 4-year collaboration plan aligned with a soundly designed certification strategy. The DMD Solutions RAMS team will support the Type Certificate approval of the D328eco by providing engineering expertise in safety, reliability, and maintainability to the Deutsche Aircraft engineering team in the framework of CS-25 regulatory requirements. The RAMS team works in an agile methodology framework to maximise customer satisfaction and to meet today's challenges of remote efficient working. The collaboration is led by Silvia Bianchi, Deutsche Aircraft's Director Aircraft Architecture and the team engages on a daily basis with the design and CVE engineering teams. For the production of RAMS analyses, both teams turn to the Robin RAMS software suite which allows a secure workflow environment and a fluid project collaboration platform.

It is with great pleasure that DMD Solutions starts this collaboration on the ambitious D328eco project and the whole team is looking forward to keeping up with the good work!

• Set for entry into service in 2025/2026, the new D328eco turboprop regional aircraft will feature numerous modernized features
• Newly designed state of the art flight deck
• Entirely new cabin linings and monuments
• Bespoke seat design to maximize passenger comfort and space
• Setting new hygiene standards

Munich – 23rd February 2022 – The German aircraft manufacturer Deutsche Aircraft has announced a partnership with the London-based design agency Factorydesign. Deutsche Aircraft is currently working on remodeling the Dornier 328 short haul aircraft into a more environmentally-friendly concept, called D328eco.

The focus on sustainability also applies to the cabin interior. Factorydesign are tasked with creating an all-new cabin interior including walls, ceilings, overhead compartments, bulkheads and partition, a new and engaging welcome on boarding, as well as a new galley, lavatory and bespoke seating.

The goal is to redefine the cabin through design features, with careful attention to sustainable materials and processes, plus thoughtful consideration given to the passenger experience, crew requirements and operation.

“It is clear that the future success of aviation at all levels will be determined by the airframers thoughtful attention to sustainability, passenger experience and providing airlines with options to improve their flexibility.  As such, we are naturally delighted to be working for Deutsche Aircraft on the new cabin interiors for their D328eco aircraft.” says Peter Tennent, Commercial Director, Factorydesign.

Ecological, comfortable and safe

Redesigning seats, stowage compartments, structural components and lighting can save weight and thus make the aircraft more fuel efficient. Selecting certified materials for components that are either recycled or are recyclable, help to reduce waste. By looking into alternative manufacturing techniques, resources may be used more efficiently.

Sustainability does not end with weight-saving and alternative materials. Passenger comfort is also key in providing a sustainable tool for airlines. “We are looking at ways to enhance the customer experience. Passengers should expect that they are being looked after, feel safe and have an experience that they want to happily come back to and not just tolerate,” explains Adrian Berry, Creative Director at Factorydesign.

What applies to the passengers also applies to the crew. Key aspects of providing them with a suitable workspace are technological enhancements, ergonomics of space and simplicity of the design.

Safety has always been an important consideration in air travel. The covid-pandemic has put an even bigger emphasis on hygiene in the cabin. Cleaning and cleanability will also be emphasized. Other state of the art cleaning solutions, anti-microbial surfaces and finishes, as well as easy and quickly changeable refreshment items could be incorporated.

Creating a convincing “business card”

Houda El Mektoumi, Head of Cabin & Cargo at Deutsche Aircraft shares: “The cabin design is the business card of an aircraft and any airline. Together with Factorydesign, our team of Cabin Interior Engineers will ensure that the high comfort and design level of long-haul jets will continue in regional aircraft. Passengers will enjoy a seamless flight experience in the D328eco and be delighted by the unique, sustainable cabin design. We are certain that together with Factorydesign we can open a new chapter in short haul air travel.”

About Factorydesign

Factorydesign is a multi-award winning, creative design agency with studios and workshops in West London, delivering strategic design solutions for cabin interiors and products for the aviation sector.  Creating unique passenger experiences through the design of cabin layouts, interiors and products including seats for all classes, cabin destinations and features, monuments, lavatories and galleys, as well interpreting and integrating brands through materials, colour, trim and finish for regional and commercial aircraft.

MUNICH, February 9th 2022 – Deutsche Aircraft GmbH today announced its partnership with SupplyOn, a leading company for supply chain management, to develop a state of the art digital management system for its supply chain, aligned with its 100% paperless, full digitalisation objective.

In order to successfully implement the strategic goal of a resilient digital supply chain in the shortest possible time, Deutsche Aircraft chose the established SupplyOn platform to support the major ramp up expected to produce the D328eco™ aircraft, a game-changing platform that prepares the future of aviation today and paves the way towards a zero-emission flight objective.  

This ambitious mission can only be achieved if highly efficient production processes are established quickly. The digitalisation of the supply chain is crucial in this context. It will comprise a global network of around 100 suppliers. SupplyOn will help Deutsche Aircraft centralize this process digitally and create a structured communication with its suppliers using the established SupplyOn platform. SupplyOn not only offers mature, industry-specific solutions and processes, but also access to a global network of over 100,000 companies, a large proportion of which are dedicated suppliers to the aerospace industry. These are the best prerequisites for Deutsche Aircraft to electronically map its supply chain end-to-end.

This effort is led by Deutsche Aircraft´s Director of Supply Chain, Maximilian Fahr, who said: “This collaboration is part of Deutsche Aircraft’s broader strategy towards a full digitalization of our supply chain. We have chosen to work with SupplyOn, because we know that this partnership will guarantee us to meet effectively our ambitious objectives”.

Initially, the focus is on digitising the tender phase in order to select competitive, sustainable and innovative bidders. The comprehensive digitization starts with the integration of around 30 strategically most important suppliers, who are also involved in the development of the prototype. These deliver the top 20 main components (MCA). At later stage, the Leipzig/Halle FAL will be included up until the series phase, which is planned for 2025, and the group of suppliers will be expanded to around 90. The aim of the rollout is fully digitized final assembly - 100 percent "paperless".

“We are pleased to be working with Deutsche Aircraft on this exciting project”, commented Markus Quicken, CEO, SupplyOn AG. “This is an essential step towards Deutsche Aircraft’s vision of securing the highest quality suppliers in the long term in order to achieve excellence, not only in product development, but also in the overall’s company processes. Building on SupplyOn´s extensive expertise, we are convinced that our team will be of a great support in this matter.”

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Get access to Martin Nüsseler's (CTO Deutsche Aircraft) presentation during the ERA Board meeting on Jan 27th 2022 on Providing an Early Solution towards Sustainable Aviation by clicking the link below:

As part of its continuing global support for the Dornier 328 fleet, Deutsche Aircraft GmbH is pleased to announce that an EASA certified Dornier 328 Jet Full Flight Simulator (FFS) Level D is now operational in Germany and will be available for training from the 1st of December 2021 onwards. The simulator received its certification from the German Federal Aviation Office (Luftfahrt-Bundesamt – LBA) on November 25th 2021. 

The simulator will be operated by Simulator Training Solution GmbH (STS). Deutsche Aircraft GmbH is cooperating with STS GmbH, the operator of the Do328 Prop simulator and now offers Do 328Jet training, on a fixed rate per hour basis. These slots can be directly booked through a dedicated page on the Deutsche Aircraft website.

“Given the excellent expertise of Deutsche Aircraft in supporting the Dornier 328 fleet over many years, we are proud to partner with them on this project, supporting the training of the next generation of pilots on the Dornier 328.” Jan Hünerfeld, CEO of STS.

Dave Jackson, Managing Director of Deutsche Aircraft stated: “It is essential to keep our operators up to date with the latest safety requirements and training, and ensure their flight training even during the current COVID-19 situation regardless of their flying activity. Establishing the simulator in Germany, is a major step towards simplifying our activities and extending our service offering to our Dornier 328 operators.”

The simulator facility is conventionally located in Velbert/Essen, close to Düsseldorf as well as Cologne-Bonn airports.

On December 6th 1991, the Dornier 328 took off for the very first time. Today marks the 30th anniversary of this milestone that we wanted to celebrate here at Deutsche Aircraft with our colleagues, partners as well as past & current customers of this amazing aircraft !

We really hope you will enjoy the footages of this maiden flight..

MUNICH, 27 October 2021 – Deutsche Aircraft GmbH today announced achievement of a new milestone toward construction of its final assembly line for the D328eco at Leipzig/Halle Airport.

Deutsche Aircraft and Leipzig/Halle Airport reached a newmilestone in the project agreement for the establishment of a newstate-of-the-art FAL for the D328eco located on the premises of the airport.The construction application for the FAL has been delivered to Saxony building authorities and approval is expected in December and the ground-breaking event is planned for the second half of 2022.

With construction of the FAL in Leipzig, Deutsche Aircraft will be an active participant in the revitalization of the region’s economy by creating around 300 new jobs and helping develop Saxony’s aerospace industry capabilities. Vital to achieving this objective is support from the development programme, “Improvement of the Regional Economic Structure”, also called GRW,of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs. The GRW has been the central instrument of regional economic policy in Germany since 1969.

In parallel, to meet the objective of building a carbon-neutral production line for the D328eco, Deutsche Aircraft is collaborating with planning agency Drees & Sommer, an international consulting company working in the German building and real estate sector. Together,the two companies are working to create future building proofs that integrate economic efficiency and minimize the FAL’s environmental impact.

Deutsche Aircraft Vice President Operations and Programmes, Nico Neumann said, “Establishing a state-of-the-art final assembly line for theD328eco in Germany is key to the development of our programme. We believe in reducing our environmental impact at every step in the aircraft design process, and this includes rethinking our production processes and building the right facility. The collaboration with Leipzig/Halle Airport will allow us to build on an ideal location in the centre of Germany and utilize the airport’s extensive aerospace experience to create a state-of-the-art facility. Furthermore, we are proud to contribute to boosting the region’s economy”.

Saxony's Minister of Economic Affairs Martin Dulig declared: "Since Germany´s reunification, the State of Saxony has invested around 1.5 billion euros in the expansion of Leipzig/Halle Airport, thus creating ideal conditions for further settlements. Companies can draw on a high level of aerospace expertise in Saxony. Around 160 companies and research institutions with more than 7,000 employees are active in Saxony's aerospace sector. The establishment of the aircraft production line in Leipzig/Halle will radiate beyond Saxony and give a boost to the German aviation industry, which was particularly affected by the Corona pandemic."

Thomas Horn, Managing Director of Wirtschaftsförderung Sachsen GmbH, said: "The establishment of the aircraft manufacturer Deutsche Aircraft in Leipzig and the associated investment in the constructionof a final assembly line for the production of the D328eco aircraft demonstrate the confidence in Saxony as a business location. For the first time since the end of aircraft manufacturing in the GDR, such a production facility is again being built in the east of Germany. With the existing competencies and the many years of experience of the Saxon aerospace players in aircraft construction, we see numerous points of contact. We are pleased that the project is moving forward."

Götz Ahmelmann, CEO Mitteldeutsche Flughafen AG, said:"Central German Airports will be the birthplace of a state-of-the-art aircraft. This is something special for us emotionally. We could hardly get a more suitable industry on the site to further develop our location in terms of quality. The D328eco is a passenger aircraft that is likely to be the future in its class as a fast and environmentally friendly regional aircraft. Thus, the site once again sends an important signal: work and the environment go hand in hand."

I am pleased to once again present you with exciting updates about Deutsche Aircraft's work and progresses for this quarter.

The transition from 328 Support Services GmbH to Deutsche Aircraft GmbH is officially complete. We are now all working under the same brand towards a common goal: more climate friendly regional aviation.

Customer satisfaction is at the heart of our company philosophy when it comes to our work on the D328® aircraft fleet. For the past quarter, we are pleased to have had a busy hangar. Our maintenance team demonstrated high quality work with a customer-oriented mindset. Every maintenance event was completed on time and to full customers´ full satisfaction.

I am pleased to once again present you with exciting updates about Deutsche Aircraft's work and progresses for this quarter.

The transition from 328 Support Services GmbH to Deutsche Aircraft GmbH is officially complete. We are now all working under the same brand towards a common goal: more climate friendly regional aviation.

Customer satisfaction is at the heart of our company philosophy when it comes to our work on the D328® aircraft fleet. For the past quarter, we are pleased to have had a busy hangar. Our maintenance team demonstrated high quality work with a customer-oriented mindset. Every maintenance event was completed on time and to full customers´ full satisfaction.

Enjoy the read!

Dave Jackson, Managing Director of Deutsche Aircraft

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Deutsche Aircraft Achievements and Progresses

On 8th October 2021, the transition from 328SSG to Deutsche Aircraft was official with the change of name recognised by the German Register of Commerce.

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D328®

Our hangar was busy for the past quarter. Among our work, we are pleased to highlight some of the achievements of our team: the completion of maintenance work on four aircraft for three different customers: Luxaviation, Private Wings and Eagle Air.

The Luxaviation aircraft came in for line maintenance. The team completed an A1 and A2 check and associated defect rectification.

From May to July, the team carried out two phase 6 inspections on two Private Wings aircraft. A Phase 6 inspection is one of the largest inspections of the D328 aircraft. One aircraft was also repainted in the new livery of Private Wings.

One Eagle Air aircraft also came in for line maintenance. The team performed engine inspections, scheduled maintenance tasks, and released to service.

After delivery of the aircraft, we received a formal recognition from Eagle Air for the work performed. “We were very happy with this maintenance visit and with all the Deutsche Aircraft people we worked with” wrote Björn S. Eggertson, Technical Manager at Eagle Air.

Moreover, the team completed Wiring-Loom production for one of our customer’s aircraft along with a ship set for HIRF testing.

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D328eco™

The development of our D328eco platform is progressing as scheduled, with the announcement of the HEGGEMANN AG as key supplier for the wing industrialisation and production, HEGGEMANN AG.

HEGGEMANN has over 55 years' experience, mastering high-volume, industrialized production. The aerodynamically optimized wing design of the D328ecoTM will be built via state-of-the-art automatized manufacturing process flow. Hereby, progressive quality assurance and digitized end-to-end processes in terms of “Industry 4.0” will be implemented. The manufactured wing and its sub-components will be fully sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) compatible, with new sealants, surface protection measures and materials that fits with all mainstream SAFs.

HEGGEMANN AG is a strong partner in the development of the D328eco and will also supply the landing gear for the aircraft.

The on-boarding of other key suppliers and partners is ongoing and more news will be announced soon.

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Meet our Team

We are delighted to introduce you to more talents on our team. This quarter, meet Dr. Stefan Brunner, our Head of Airframe and Jean Damien Mazeau, our Head of Propulsion.

Dr. Stefan Brunner joined Deutsche Aircraft as Head of Airframe. He is responsible for the design of the airframe´s primary structure. He also handles structural analysis along with materials and processes for the complete aircraft.

Stefan built a long career in aerospace, working for various key players such as MT Aerospace AG, Premium Aerotec GmbH and Airbus Group.

During his 17 years within Airbus, he was heavily involved in a wide variety of major engineering programmes for both commercial aviation and defence and space programmes.

Jean Damien Mazeau joined Deutsche Aircraft in November 2020 as Head of Propulsion.

He is in charge of the development work for the propulsion systems for the D328eco’s propulsion systems.

Jean Damien worked for over 18 years within Airbus, starting in Airbus Helicopter as Thermal Engineer before integrating the Chief Engineering Team in France and Germany. He then moved to Airbus Commercial to work as Power Plant Chief Engineer in charge of A320. Afterwards, he came onboard Airbus Commercial customer support organization in the engineering department to manage the entry into service of the A320neo. Finally, he moved to Singapore for Airbus customer support programme of the A320 to be the main technical focal point for the Asian Pacific market where he stayed for two and a half year.

He holds an Engineering degree in Thermal and Energetics from the University of Poitiers in France.

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Deutsche Aircraft - Your Place to Lift Off

As part of its long-term growth strategy, Deutsche Aircraft launched a vocational training programme in partnership with AERO-Bildung, the aviation training centre of Bavaria, to train aircraft mechanics.

The first cohort will enrol four students and is expected to start in September 2022. During a 42-month timeframe, trainees will learn the ins and outs of the business of aircraft mechanics at the AERO-Bildung facilities and will test their newly acquired knowledge on state-of-the-art aircraft at Deutsche Aircraft near Munich.

Deutsche Aircraft is looking forward to welcome them and to enrich its team with a youthful spirit!

Tune in to our career website here to learn more about this opportunity.

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Deutsche Aircraft at Key Aerospace Events

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2021 RAA Leaders Conference

On 27 and 28 September 2021, Deutsche Aircraft “virtually” attended the 2021 RAA Leaders Conference, a conference of the Regional Airline Association, a business association representing 18 North American regional airlines and 280 associate, non-airline members, including manufacturers of products and services supporting the regional airline industry.

In a mix of presentation and panel discussions, the first day of debates evolved around COVID-19 and its impact on the aviation industry. The conclusion was that while we are on the way to recovery, we are still very far from getting there. Experts expect the U.S. to be one of the fastest – if not the fastest – regions to recover post-COVID due to the large domestic market. They also consider that business travel will be slower to recover, even if in-person meeting with customers is still seen a key factor to seal the deal.

Population decentralisation post pandemic is expected to be a major driver of demand for regional aviation, potentially resulting in a shift to smaller planes. Thus, discussions in the second day gauged trends to revert back towards the 50ish-seater spectrum, with a closer look on upcoming smaller aircraft and finished with an outlook on green initiatives in aviation.

The Air Current, a data-driven aviation trade media, reporting on the business, technology and strategy of flying, presented a comprehensive review of small sustainable regional aircraft currently in development. Deutsche Aircraft’s D328eco was featured in this review as the upcoming contender to watch.

Panel discussion around environmentally friendly aircraft brought up a lot of skepticism due to the commercial (and sustainable) viability of electric powered aircraft. Such aircraft are deemed too heavy and concerns were raised around battery disposal.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is seen as the short-medium term alternative towards greener aviation.

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15th Day of the German Aerospace

On 29th September 2021, the 15th Day of German Aerospace Regions took place in Aachen, Germany.

The event brought together the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, the Regional Forum of the German Aerospace Industries Association and the Ministry for Economic Affairs, Innovation, Digitalization and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) alongside with the AeroSpace NRW network and major aerospace companies.

Our partner HEGGEMANN AG had a stand where Deutsche Aircraft displayed a model of the D328eco. We had the pleasure of welcoming Mr. Thomas Jarzombek, Commissioner for the Digital Industry and Start-ups and Federal Government Coordinator of German Aerospace Policy, and Prof. Dr. Andreas Pinkwart, Minister for Economic Affairs, Innovation, Digitalisation and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, onto the stand and to explain the unique capabilities of the D328eco.

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Deutsche Aircraft in the News

This quarter, media interest in Deutsche Aircraft continued to grow, with news coverage across key business and aviation media outlets. Press releases helped pique interest, with announcements regarding the launch of our vocational training programme for aircraft mechanics, D328eco programme development and the official name change from 328SSG GmbH to Deutsche Aircraft GmbH.

Deutsche Aircraft was also featured in respected business publications presenting the D328eco as the future of flight.

Finally, thanks to a digital campaign and a revamped website, Deutsche Aircraft strengthened its online presence.

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Deutsche Aircraft and AERO-Bildung sign partnership to start vocational training for Aircraft Mechanics (August 23, 2021)

• ‍Deutsche Aircraft and AERO-Bildung Partner to Offer Vocational Training for Aircraft Mechanics, Aviation Pros
• ‍D328eco maker steps up vocational training, Business Air News

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Deutsche Aircraft Selects HEGGEMANN AG for D328ecoTM Wing Industrialization and Production (September 2, 2021)

• Deutsche Aircraft reinforces Heggemann ties with D328eco wing pact, Flight Global
• Deutsche Aircraft Selects Heggemann AG for D328ecoTM Wing Production, AviationPros

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328 Support Services GmbH officially becomes Deutsche Aircraft GmbH (October 8, 2021)

• 328 Support Services GmbH officially becomes Deutsche Aircraft GmbH, World Airline News
• 328 Support Services GmbH officially becomes Deutsche Aircraft GmbH, Aviationpros