Clean-aviation startup ZeroAvia is in the process of securing around $150 million in a new funding round to support the commercial launch of its first hydrogen fuel-cell engine. The company is engaging with investors for the Series D funding and aims to close the round by mid-June. ZeroAvia's Chief Executive Officer, Val Miftakhov, expressed confidence that this funding would sustain operations until the end of 2028 and potentially lead to an IPO once product shipments commence. ZeroAvia's ZA600 engine has received interest from its launch customer, RVL Aviation, for use in a Cessna Grand Caravan for flights in the UK. Certification efforts are underway with the US FAA and the UK's Civil Aviation Authority. The company plans to start commercial operations by late 2022 or early 2027, focusing initially on the engine-replacement market before expanding to new aircraft engines. ZeroAvia envisions disrupting the aircraft-engine industry dominated by major players like Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce, starting with smaller aircraft and progressing to larger planes. The upcoming ZA2000 engine is designed for turboprops seating up to 80 passengers. Despite recent setbacks in the hydrogen-aviation sector, ZeroAvia has raised over $300 million, including grants, positioning itself as a leading player. The company has benefited from a less-competitive landscape and was selected for a US Air Force grant to explore hydrogen propulsion in Cessna aircraft. ZeroAvia remains optimistic about the future of electrifying aviation, starting with smaller aircraft and gradually expanding to larger models.