GE Aerospace announced on Monday that it has successfully completed the world's first high-altitude flight test with hybrid-electric propulsion assistance. A Saab 340B test aircraft surpassed 30,000 feet for the first time over Vermont, USA, on May 20, marking a milestone in the advancement of hybrid-electric technology in commercial aviation. The test was officially disclosed on the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow.

The test aircraft integrated a megawatt-class hybrid-electric propulsion system developed by GE Aerospace in its right engine nacelle, including an electric motor, generator, power converter, and inverter, paired with a battery pack supplied by BAE Systems. During the longest test flight, the hybrid-electric system operated continuously for over two hours. "This is leading the next step in aviation propulsion," said Kyle Clark, founder and CEO of BETA Technologies, during a press conference.

The research is conducted in collaboration between GE Aerospace, NASA, and BETA Technologies, and is a key component of NASA's Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration (EPFD) project. After completing tests in the United States, BETA's pilot flew the aircraft across the Atlantic in hybrid-electric mode, making stops in Greenland, Iceland, and other locations before arriving in the UK for the airshow. "Simulation has given way to real-world innovation," said Mohamed Ali, CEO of GE Aerospace's commercial engines division.