Former Joby Aviation Hydrogen Lead to Teach First Hydrogen Safety for Aviation Course

HOUSTON, TX - HYSKY Society, the Houston-based 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to decarbonizing the skies, has announced that Raffaele Russo will lead the industry's first comprehensive training program focused on hydrogen safety in aviation starting February 3, 2026. Russo, the former Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) Lead at Joby Aviation, is a world-renowned expert who spearheaded the development of the world's first liquid hydrogen-powered VTOL aircraft, which successfully completed a landmark 561-mile flight in 2024. Now the Founder and CEO of Otter Stone, Inc., Russo brings deep technical expertise from his background in thermal engineering at Tesla and Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 to address the critical safety and regulatory bottlenecks facing the hydrogen aviation sector.

Learn more at https://connect.hysky.org/spaces/21481798/page.

The three-week, 12-hour short course provides a complete foundation in the hazards, standards, and emergency practices required for safe hydrogen integration. The curriculum begins with an introduction to hydrogen hazards and moves into a detailed exploration of global codes and standards from the FAA, EASA, NFPA, and ISO. A unique highlight of the program is the focus on operational safety for prototype flight testing, where Russo will share firsthand insights into the specific risks faced by teams working on experimental aircraft. Students will also dive into the technicalities of LH2 and gaseous hydrogen storage, fueling, and distribution, ensuring a thorough understanding of both aircraft and airport infrastructure needs.

In addition to regulatory frameworks, the course offers a deep dive into detection, ventilation, and hazard mitigation systems. Russo will use real-world case studies and interactive demonstrations, such as balloon experiments and myth-busting quizzes, to explain the complex physical behaviors of hydrogen. Key technical topics include understanding the 25% lower flammability limit, the critical importance of pre-swaging to prevent high-pressure leaks, and the variables-such as gas speed and shock-that dictate whether a leak will spontaneously ignite. The course also introduces scalable Mobile Refueling & Energy (MRE) solutions that can be implemented for drone takeoffs and small-scale airport operations.

Enroll now at https://connect.hysky.org/spaces/21481798/page.

The program concludes with a focus on emergency response, incident management, and the future of global policy alignment. Running every Tuesday and Thursday from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. CST, the course is delivered online via the HYSKY Connect platform. All students will receive 1.2 CEUs, 12 Professional Development Hours (PDH), and a Certificate of Completion from HYSKY Society. Registration is currently open, with discounted pricing available for HYSKY Connect VIP members and students.

8015 Goldengrove DR Spring, TX 77379

HYSKY Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the decarbonization of aviation and aerospace through the use of hydrogen.

This release was published on openPR.