Zero-emission Test Flight in Orkney

That the Parliament welcomes the news that Orkney will demonstrate a zero-emission test flight as part of the HyFlyer project; understands that the project is attempting to decarbonise medium-range small passenger flights by replacing conventional aircraft fuel with electric motors, hydrogen fuel cells and gas storage, and has recently received £3.5 million of funding from the UK Government’s ATI programme to achieve this aim; acknowledges that aviation is currently responsible for 12% of CO2 emissions from all transport sources, making it one of the biggest contributors of global emissions; believes that the HyFlyer project will significantly reduce CO2 emissions and is the latest development to potentially decarbonise all lifeline transport services across Orkney; notes that the project will culminate in a 300-mile demonstration flight from Orkney in the hope that all future flights from Kirkwall Airport can be serviced using green hydrogen; congratulates all of the project partners on their hard work in securing the funding and developing the project; wishes everyone involved the very best for a successful test flight, and looks forward to a time in the near future when zero-emission flights will be the norm at Kirkwall and across the HIAL network.