Project Heart

Project HEART (Hydrogen-Electric Automated Regional Transport) represents the first real steps in de-carbonising our domestic aviation industry. Our vision is to create a new national network of zero carbon air services with a sustainability driven modular airport terminal design.

Embracing new technology

Starting with a focus on the needs of remote Scottish islands communities who often rely on underdeveloped subsidised air travel between the islands, Project HEART will create a future business model of highly automated, carbon reduced sub-regional aviation that is cost-effective, safe, reliable and commercially viable.

We have taken a systems approach looking at every facet of delivering a paradigm shift in air travel, supporting our longer-term aim to bring commercial services to existing underutilised low volume airfields, creating a new national network of zero carbon air services.

Collaborative working

Working with a consortium of industry experts we are combining industry leading expertise to construct and operate what would be the world’s first zero emission 19 seater commercial air service, including dedicated green hydrogen infrastructure by 2028.

The 14 organisation strong consortium includes autonomous flight specialist Blue Bear, hydrogen and technology specialists ZeroAvia, Protium Green Solutions, Inmarsat and Fleetondemand, the Transport Research Institute at Edinburgh Napier University, airline Loganair and airport operator Highlands and Islands Airports.

Sustainable Design

The HEART Terminal is driven by three design pillars: Environmentally Sustainable, Economic and Inclusive. The modular, scalable, and deployable timber structure uses a form-active folded roof geometry to minimise the number of columns, creating a structure that is adaptable to many locations and communities. The form enables natural ventilation, improved acoustics, and open views towards the airfield which provides a step-change in low-carbon design as well as an unsurpassed passenger experience.