The project activities should address the operational implications of the Clean Aviation aircraft concepts, involving innovative propulsion systems based on SAF, H2, and battery energy, combined with advanced airframe and systems technologies. To achieve its goals, the project is expected to cooperate and align with the Clean Aviation projects responsible for the following aircraft concept definition and integration.

• The Ultra-Efficient Regional Aircraft (UERA) concept is a 50-100 passengers (pax) aircraft with a design range up to 500 Nautical Miles (NM), based on hybrid electric propulsion supplied by batteries with an EIS expected by 2035. It requires a battery recharging infrastructure and involves new electrical High-Voltage systems and batteries. The project should closely cooperate with HERACLES project (CfP 03), ensuring the coordination of Clean Aviation projects’ contributions to the UERA concept. Cooperation with PHARES project (CfP 03), maturing the hybrid-electric propulsive system should be as well considered.
• The ultra efficient SMR aircraft concept is a 200-250 pax aircraft with a design range up to 3000NM, based on ducted or unducted next generation turbofans, with an EIS expected by 2035. It is expected to provide similar or better capabilities, compared to State of the Art SMR aircraft and is using SAF fuel which should help compatibility with existing kerosene infrastructure. However, even small operational differences triggered by new technology could have major impact due to the significant footprint of SMR products on aviation ecosystem. The project should closely cooperate with ACIandI project (CfP 03), ensuring the coordination of Clean Aviation projects’ contributions to the ultra-efficient SMR aircraft concept. Cooperation with TAKE-OFF and UNIFIED projects (CfP 03), and other projects of this CfP maturing the propulsive systems should be as well considered.
• Two Hydrogen Powered Aircraft concepts are considered: an aircraft concept based on H2 Fuel-Cell propulsion technologies, with a capacity of 100 pax and range of 1000NM; and a concept based on H2 combustion in gas-turbines technologies, with a capacity of 100-150 passengers and range up to 1400NM. Both concepts have an EIS expected in the 2040s and represent a new class of aircraft with specific operational characteristics and capabilities, sitting between the regional and short-medium range market segmentation. They are expected to require more significant adaptations of the aviation ecosystem, including H2 supply at airports and refuelling procedures, adaptation of airline fleet networks, ground and maintenance procedures, or ATM integration. The project should closely cooperate with the projects to be selected from topic HORIZON-JU-CLEAN-AVIATION-2026-04-ACI-01: “Hydrogen powered aircraft concepts and key technologies integration and impact assessment” of this CfP, ensuring the coordination of HPA thrust aircraft concepts.

In order to ensure a seamless deployment in operations of future aircraft technologies, and to accelerate market adoption, the project is expected to identify major challenges and operational complexities associated with the introduction and integration of the Clean Aviation aircraft concepts and technologies in daily operations. A specific focus is expected on the identification of operational bottlenecks susceptible to delay market penetration of the new aircraft concepts. Adequate mitigation actions should be identified and operational requirements and constraints provided at technology or aircraft concept levels.