AMREF Air Ambulance Crash in Nairobi Kenya

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In a devastating turn of events, an AMREF Flying Doctors air ambulance , a Cessna Citation XLS with a registration 5Y-FDM , crashed into a residential neighborhood in Mwihoko, Kiambu County just outside Nairobi killing six people and injuring others. The twin-engine medical jet departed from Wilson Airport at approximately 2:14–2:17 PM local time on Thursday, bound for Hargeisa in Somaliland. Merely three minutes into the flight, the aircraft lost radio and radar contact with air traffic control. Citation XLS 5Y-FDM. Eyewitnesses described a horrifying scene: “The plane started burning while in the air,” one resident recounted, while another said the aircraft “passed by our building shaking it,” before crashing into a house. The impact and ensuing blaze claimed the lives of all four people aboard and two individuals inside the home. Rescue teams, including those from the Kenya Red Cross, Kenya Defence Forces, National Police, and aviation authorities, rushed to the scene.  AMREF ...
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Ampaire’s AMP-H570 Becomes First Hybrid System to Secure FAA Certification Basis

 In a landmark development for sustainable aviation, Ampaire has announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a G-1 Certification Basis for its AMP-H570 hybrid electric propulsion system. This approval marks the first time a hybrid electric system has received such recognition from the FAA, positioning Ampaire as a frontrunner in the race to electrify air travel.

The G-1 Certification Basis establishes the airworthiness and environmental benchmarks that the AMP-H570 must meet to achieve a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC). With this milestone, Ampaire moves into the next phase of the certification process—defining the Means of Compliance and conducting extensive validation testing in collaboration with the FAA.



Hybrid Tech for a Greener Sky

The AMP-H570 system features a parallel hybrid architecture inspired by early automotive hybrids. This configuration enables in-flight battery recharging, eliminating the need for ground-based charging infrastructure and offering unmatched flexibility for operators. With a retrofit-ready design, the system can be integrated into existing aircraft platforms, dramatically cutting both costs and deployment time.

Ampaire's Eco Caravan aircraft, powered by the AMP-H570, has already demonstrated over double the fuel efficiency of conventional aircraft in flight testing. Ground tests have also proven its capability to run on 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), reinforcing Ampaire's position at the forefront of practical, near-term aviation solutions.


Economic and Regulatory Advantages

For regional airlines and cargo operators, the AMP-H570 delivers clear operational benefits:

📎Reduced fuel consumption

📎Lower maintenance costs

📎Extended aircraft service life

These advantages make the system not only environmentally sound but also economically attractive—especially as global emissions regulations continue to tighten.

The U.S. Air Force has also taken notice, funding research to explore AMP-H570 applications in aircraft such as the King Air. Additionally, manufacturers are evaluating both integrated parallel and series hybrid configurations of the system for future aircraft designs.


A Path Toward Certification and Deployment

Ampaire is now working toward the G-2 Issue Paper with the FAA, which will finalize the technical compliance pathway. The company aims to achieve full certification of the AMP-H570 system and the Eco Caravan by the end of 2026.

The Co-Founder and CEO of Ampaire,  Kevin Noertker said:

This milestone demonstrates that we are executing on our regulatory roadmap, removing risk for investors and customers, and accelerating real-world deployment. 


About Ampaire

Based in Long Beach, California, Ampaire develops hybrid electric propulsion systems designed to slash emissions and operating costs in aviation. The company’s mission is to provide scalable, practical electrification technologies that make clean aviation both profitable and achievable—today, not decades from now.


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