Canada achieves world-first piloted hydrogen-powered helicopter flight

Canadian Advanced Air Mobility (CAAM) has announced a landmark achievement in the field of sustainable aviation, as National Board member Unither Bioélectronique has successfully completed the world’s first piloted flight of a hydrogen-powered helicopter. The historic event took place at Roland-Désourdy Airport in Bromont, Québec, on March 27, 2025, and marks a major advancement not only for Canadian aviation, but for the global movement towards cleaner air transport.

This demonstration represents a dual milestone: the first time a piloted hydrogen-powered helicopter has flown anywhere in the world, and the first piloted hydrogen-powered flight in Canadian history. The three-minute and sixteen-second flight served as a crucial proof of concept, validating that a proton exchange membrane (PEM) hydrogen fuel cell system can provide the necessary power for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) operations.

“Our first test flight successfully demonstrated the hover and manoeuvre capabilities of our innovative hydrogen powertrain,” said Mikaël Cardinal, Vice President, Programme Management & Business Development, Organ Delivery Systems for Unither Bioélectronique. “Our next phase of development will focus on integrating a liquid hydrogen storage system, which we believe is an essential technology for enabling our extended-range missions to deliver manufactured organ alternatives to patients in need.”

The flight was conducted as part of ‘Project Proticity™’, a collaboration between Unither Bioélectronique and the Robinson Helicopter Company. Test pilot Ric Webb carried out the demonstration under an experimental flight permit from Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), using a modified Robinson R44 Raven II. The aircraft was powered by a hybrid propulsion system combining PEM fuel cells with batteries, with approximately 90% of the flight’s energy drawn from hydrogen.

CAAM heralded the achievement as a turning point for clean aviation in Canada. “This historic achievement proves that clean aviation isn’t a distant dream—it’s a present-day reality taking flight right here in Canada,” said JR Hammond, Executive Director of CAAM. “Unither’s success is a shining example of the innovation happening across our ecosystem and demonstrates how Canadian leadership is shaping the global future of zero-emission air mobility.”

The success of the project not only elevates Canada’s standing in clean aviation innovation but also paves the way for future applications in emergency services, healthcare delivery, and advanced logistics.