Rules

The Rules of the Freedom Flight Prize

Freedom Flight Prize Rules

Complete a return flight with a zero carbon emission aircraft, capable of carrying 100 or more passengers, between London and New York* and complete the return trip within 24 hours of starting out.

  • Must not create CO2 emissions in flight.
  • Must be powered by either energy generated from renewables or a zero carbon fuel produced using energy from renewables (for example Hydrogen).
  • Must be able to carry at least 100 passengers (the flight must be completed with a ballast to represent 100 passengers each with a mass of 90kg).
  • Must fly from London, UK to New York, USA and then return back to London, UK* (or an equivalent route).
  • Must be able to fly each leg in under 10 hours.
  • Must complete the return flight within 24 hours of starting out.
  • Each leg must be non-stop, without the need to land to refuel on route.
  • The aircraft must meet the current (at the date of flight) aviation and safety requirements in the countries that they fly from/to, and any other international requirements that may be applicable for such a technology demonstration / test flight.
  • Participants must be registered with the Freedom Flight Prize before completing the historic flight.
  • Representatives of the Freedom Flight Prize must be given access to the aircraft (before and at the end of the flight) to be able to validate the aircraft meets the requirements, and be able to track the aircrafts progress and flight path during the flight.

The first person, company or team to do this will be awarded the Freedom Flight Prize Fund and take their rightful place in aviation history.

Go to FAQs

The Small Print...

Carbon Footprint Ltd holds the right to update the rules from time to time. This may include clarifications and corrections, but will never change the ultimate goal of the Freedom Flight Prize which is enabling zero carbon aviation.

*An equivalent route can be proposed. When an equivalent route is proposed, the flight distance between the 2 airports must be at least 5500km and include at least 50% of the flight to be over a large body of water (e.g. Atlantic, Indian or Pacific Oceans). Alternative routes will be considered to ensure the competition is open to aircraft developers in Asia, Africa and Australia without giving them an additional unfair challenge of needing to fly to the UK or USA to be able to start of the Prize attempt. Alternative routes must be applied for, and approved, before the start of the Prize Flight attempt.