Jekta Advances Electric Amphibian Program with 1:9 Scale Model Unveiling

Swiss aerospace manufacturer Jekta has officially unveiled a 1:9 scale model of its PHA-ZE 100 (Passenger Hydro Aircraft, Zero Emissions 100), marking a critical milestone in the development of its 19-passenger electric aviation amphibious aircraft. The announcement, made on December 11, 2025, confirms that the company has moved into active flight testing with the sub-scale demonstrator to validate its aerodynamic and hydrodynamic designs.

According to the company’s announcement, the remote-controlled model is currently undergoing flight campaigns in Italy. These tests are designed to gather real-world data that will be cross-referenced with computer simulations, ensuring the airframe is mature before the company proceeds to full-scale production. Jekta aims to reintroduce the utility of the “flying boat” to the global market, targeting an entry into service by 2030.

Flight Testing and Validation

The newly unveiled model represents a significant engineering step for the Payerne-based company. While digital modeling provides a theoretical baseline, physical testing of the 1:9 scale model allows engineers to observe how the hull interacts with water during takeoff and landing, as well as how the distributed electric propulsion system performs in flight.

The testing is taking place near the base of Jekta’s Head of Design, Max Pinucci, in Italy. In a statement regarding the program’s progress, Jekta CEO George Alafinov emphasized the practical utility of the large-scale model:

“The 1:9 scale model is large enough to provide data representative of the full-size aircraft and is allowing us to efficiently expand the test envelope… ensuring the aircraft’s maturity as we work towards introducing it to the global air transport network in 2030.”

, George Alafinov, CEO of Jekta

PHA-ZE 100 Technical Specifications

The full-scale PHA-ZE 100 is designed to serve coastal communities, island nations, and regional routes that lack extensive airport infrastructure. By utilizing existing waterways and standard runways, the aircraft offers operational flexibility without the need for the expensive vertiports often required by eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) competitors.

According to technical details released by the manufacturer, the aircraft will feature:

• Capacity: 19 passengers in a standard economy configuration, with options for VIP or cargo layouts.
• Propulsion: Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP) utilizing 8 electric motors mounted on the wings for redundancy and safety.
• Speed: A cruise speed of 110–135 knots (approximately 200–250 km/h).
• Certification Basis: The aircraft is being developed to meet EASA CS-23 and FAA FAR-23 standards.

Battery vs. Hydrogen Variants

Jekta has outlined a dual-propulsion strategy to meet different market needs. The base model will utilize battery-electric technology, offering a range of approximately 150 km, suitable for short inter-island hops. However, through a partnership with ZeroAvia, Jekta is also developing a hydrogen fuel cell variant. This configuration is projected to quadruple the effective range to nearly 600 km, making regional connectivity viable for zero-emission operators.

AirPro News Analysis

The Return of the Flying Boat

Jekta’s progress highlights a growing sub-sector in sustainable aviation: the modernization of the amphibious aircraft. While the “Golden Age” of flying boats faded after World War II due to the rise of long runways and jet engines, the format solves a specific modern problem. Developing nations in Southeast Asia and archipelagos like the Maldives often struggle to build land-based runways due to ecological concerns or lack of space. The PHA-ZE 100’s ability to operate from water offers an “infrastructure-light” solution.

We note that Jekta faces competition in this niche, specifically from Norway’s Elfly Group, which is developing the 9-seat “Noemi,” and the US-based REGENT, which is building the “Viceroy” seaglider. However, Jekta’s 19-seat capacity places it in a larger utility class, potentially appealing to operators looking to replace aging Twin Otters or Cessna Caravans on over-water routes.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will the Jekta PHA-ZE 100 enter service?

Jekta is targeting an entry into service (EIS) for 2030 or 2031, following certification under EASA and FAA regulations.

What is the range of the aircraft?

The battery-electric version has a range of approximately 150 km, while the hydrogen fuel cell variant aims for a range of up to 600 km.

Is this a vertical takeoff (VTOL) aircraft?

No. The PHA-ZE 100 is an amphibious aircraft that takes off and lands horizontally on water (using its hull) or on land (using retractable wheels). It does not require the complex tilt-rotor mechanisms found in eVTOLs.

Sources

• Jekta Switzerland

KLM Backs Wennink Report, Calls for National SAF Fund to Secure Dutch Economic Future

On December 12, 2025, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines officially endorsed the findings of the newly released advisory report, “The Route to Future Prosperity” (De weg naar toekomstige welvaart). Authored by former ASML CEO Peter Wennink, the report outlines a strategic roadmap for the Dutch economy, emphasizing the need for significant investment to maintain national competitiveness.

Central to KLM’s endorsement is the report’s recommendation for the Dutch government to establish a national SAF fund. The airline argues that such a financial mechanism is critical to bridging the price gap between fossil kerosene and renewable alternatives, thereby accelerating the aviation sector’s transition to Sustainability without compromising the Netherlands’ economic standing.

The Wennink Report: A Call for Investment

Commissioned to analyze the Dutch Investments climate, the Wennink report warns that the Netherlands risks economic stagnation if it does not increase its annual growth rate to between 1.5% and 2%. According to the findings, maintaining current social standards, including healthcare, defense, and the energy transition, requires a massive capital injection.

The report estimates that an additional €151 billion to €187 billion in investment is needed by 2035 to modernize the economy. It identifies specific high-productivity sectors as essential pillars for future prosperity, including Artificial Intelligence, biotechnology, and aviation.

KLM has aligned itself with these findings, noting that a thriving business climate relies heavily on international connectivity. In its statement, the airline emphasized that the connectivity provided by Schiphol Airport is vital for Dutch trade and for attracting international headquarters to the region.

The Proposal for a National SAF Fund

A key pillar of the aviation Strategy proposed in the report is the creation of a government-backed fund dedicated to Sustainable Aviation Fuel. Currently, SAF is significantly more expensive than traditional fossil kerosene, often three to four times the price, and suffers from limited supply availability.

KLM posits that a national fund would act as a catalyst to solve these market inefficiencies. By subsidizing the cost difference, the fund would make SAF more affordable for Airlines, ensuring they remain competitive against non-EU carriers that may not face similar sustainability mandates. Furthermore, the fund is intended to de-risk long-term investments for energy companies, encouraging the construction of domestic refineries, such as the facilities planned in Delfzijl.

“Such a fund would enable the Netherlands to accelerate the production of alternative aviation fuels and make them more affordable, thereby accelerating the sector’s sustainability.”

— KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

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Strategic Competitiveness vs. Taxation

KLM used the release of the Wennink report to argue against unilateral national taxes or flight restrictions, which have been subjects of recent political debate in the Netherlands. The airline warns that such measures could harm the Dutch economy by reducing connectivity and driving business elsewhere.

Instead, KLM advocates for incentivizing sustainability. The airline suggests that the government must take a more active role in the energy transition rather than relying solely on industry mandates. According to the press release, “Real progress can only be achieved if government and industry work together and if the government takes a more active role.”

AirPro News Analysis

The endorsement of the Wennink report represents a strategic pivot for KLM, moving the conversation from “flight shaming” to economic necessity. By aligning its sustainability goals with the broader “Draghi-style” warnings about European competitiveness, KLM is positioning aviation not just as a transport sector, but as a geopolitical asset essential for the Netherlands’ survival as a trading nation.

However, this call for government funding comes amidst a complex backdrop. In 2024, KLM faced legal scrutiny regarding “greenwashing” allegations, with courts ruling that some “Fly Responsibly” advertisements painted an overly optimistic picture of SAF’s immediate impact. The push for a national fund can be interpreted as a tacit admission that the industry cannot achieve its 2030 and 2050 climate targets through market forces alone; without state intervention to lower the cost of SAF, the “green” transition remains economically unfeasible for legacy carriers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Wennink Report?

Titled “The Route to Future Prosperity,” it is an advisory report authored by Peter Wennink (former CEO of ASML) that analyzes the Dutch investment climate and proposes strategies to boost economic growth and productivity.

Why does KLM want a national SAF fund?

Sustainable Aviation Fuel is currently much more expensive than fossil kerosene. A national fund would help bridge this price gap, making it affordable for airlines to use more renewable fuel while encouraging energy companies to build production facilities in the Netherlands.

How much investment does the report say is needed?

The report estimates that the Netherlands needs an additional €151 billion to €187 billion in investment by 2035 to modernize its economy and maintain social standards.

Sources

• KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

This article is based on an official press release from RTX.

RTX and Pratt & Whitney Unveil Hydrogen-Steam Engine Design Developed by AI

RTX, the parent company of Pratt & Whitney, has announced the successful conclusion of a multi-year research initiative aimed at redefining hydrogen propulsion for commercial aviation. On December 9, 2025, the company revealed details of its HySIITE (Hydrogen Steam Injected, Intercooled Turbine Engine) project, which utilized a proprietary artificial intelligence tool to design an engine architecture capable of achieving a 35% improvement in energy efficiency compared to today’s state-of-the-art turbofans.

The project, supported by a $3.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s ARPA-E program, represents a significant departure from traditional engine design. Rather than adapting existing fossil-fuel engines to burn Hydrogen, the HySIITE project sought to exploit the specific cryogenic and chemical properties of liquid hydrogen from the ground up. According to RTX, the resulting design not only boosts fuel efficiency but also eliminates over 99% of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, addressing one of the primary environmental concerns associated with hydrogen combustion.

The “DISCOVER” AI Tool

The breakthrough in the HySIITE architecture was made possible by an internal RTX artificial intelligence tool named DISCOVER. Traditional engine design often relies on iterating upon proven architectures. However, to fully leverage hydrogen, engineers needed to explore a design space far too vast for human calculation alone.

According to the company, the DISCOVER tool analyzed approximately 70 different engine components and calculated an estimated 1 quattuorvigintillion ($10^{75}$) possible configurations. From this near-infinite pool of possibilities, the AI identified 4,202 feasible designs, presenting them as a scatter plot that allowed engineers to pinpoint the optimal architecture.

“Just to put that in perspective, there are $10^{80}$ atoms in the universe.”

, Larry Zeidner, RTX Technical Fellow, regarding the scale of the design space analyzed.

This computational approach allowed the team to identify a “semi-closed” thermodynamic cycle that human engineers might have missed using conventional methods. RTX notes that the DISCOVER tool is now being applied across other divisions, including Collins Aerospace and Raytheon, to optimize designs for microelectronics and power systems.

Reimagining the Thermodynamic Cycle

The selected HySIITE design differs radically from standard jet engines. While hydrogen burns hotter and faster than jet fuel, characteristics that typically lead to high NOx emissions, the new architecture turns these traits into advantages through steam injection and intercooling.

In the HySIITE engine, liquid hydrogen (stored at -253°C) is used to cool the incoming air before combustion, a process known as intercooling. Furthermore, the engine is designed to capture water vapor from its own exhaust. RTX reports that the system recovers approximately one gallon of water every three seconds. This recovered water is then injected back into the combustor as steam.

“We were really trying to reimagine, from the ground up, what a hydrogen engine could be… We found that we can take advantage of some of the unique properties of hydrogen to do things that can’t be done with jet fuel.”

, Neil Terwilliger, HySIITE Principal Investigator.

The steam injection serves a dual purpose: it increases the power output of the turbine and strictly controls the temperature of the hydrogen flame, which is the key factor in reducing NOx emissions to near-zero levels.

Future Applications and Industry Context

While the HySIITE project was a research-focused proof-of-concept, RTX is moving forward with follow-on programs to mature the technologies required for a potential entry-into-service around 2050. These initiatives include the HyADES (Hydrogen Advanced Design Engine Study) project with Pratt & Whitney Canada and the NASA AACES 2050 program, which aims to develop sustainable aircraft concepts for the mid-century timeframe.

AirPro News Analysis

The unveiling of the HySIITE architecture positions RTX as a distinct competitor in the growing hydrogen propulsion landscape. While competitors like Airbus are targeting a 2035 entry for their ZEROe hydrogen aircraft, and CFM International (GE Aerospace and Safran) is focusing on the open-fan RISE architecture, RTX appears to be playing a longer game focused on thermal efficiency maximization.

The decision to pursue a steam-injected, semi-closed cycle differentiates Pratt & Whitney from Rolls-Royce, which has focused heavily on direct hydrogen combustion for widebody applications. By prioritizing the elimination of NOx, often cited by environmental groups as a critical hurdle for hydrogen aviation, RTX is addressing the non-CO2 climate impacts of aviation that contrail-avoidance strategies alone cannot solve.

However, the timeline remains a significant factor. With a target of 2050 for this specific architecture, the industry will likely see intermediate hydrogen solutions or hybrid-electric configurations enter the market well before the HySIITE concept becomes a commercial reality.

Sources: RTX