The HHS’ Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) awarded electric aircraft manufacturer Beta Technologies $20 million, forming a partnership that could one day send the vehicles to respond to natural disasters or public health emergencies. As part of the multiphase contract, Beta will install 22 electric chargers along the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico at sites the partners believe will enable faster response times for potentially life-saving healthcare.

About half of these sites are up and running in states including Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and Arkansas. The most recent was installed at Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers Airport (KJAN) in Mississippi, where the company also agreed to electrify a terminal for FBO network Atlantic Aviation. The rest are expected to come online in 2025, joining a Beta charging network that already spans from Vermont to Florida to Arkansas.

Bridging the Gap

Lack of access to healthcare, whether due to financial or geographical reasons, is a key driver of high morbidity and mortality rates in rural areas of the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Beta, citing a study in the National Library of Medicine, points out that air ambulances, which typically take the form of helicopters, take in more than half a million patients each year. The aircraft have played an increasingly important role as more rural hospitals shut down.

The problem, though, is that these services are often bogged down by costs and inclement weather. Per an investigation by Kaiser Health News and Reveal, between 2014 and 2019, transportation issues during organ transplants caused about 370 “near misses,” or delays of two hours or more that nearly made the organs unusable. Almost 170 organs failed to reach their destination in time and could not be transplanted—instead, they were discarded.

“We’ve had organs that are left on airplanes, organs that arrive at an airport and then can’t get taken off the aircraft in a timely fashion and spend an extra two or three or four hours waiting for somebody to get them,” Dr. David Axelrod, a transplant surgeon at the University of Iowa, told Kaiser Health News.

Beta claims its chargers will allow HHS to establish an Emergency Preparedness Platform (EPP)—essentially a network for delivering equipment, pharmaceuticals, and patients without the pitfalls of using conventional aircraft. The idea is to help close the healthcare access gap between urban and rural areas.

“We expect this work with Beta to give ASPR and other federal partners the ability to get vital materials and equipment to ground zero when other land-based modes of transportation are unavailable,” said Arlene Joyner, director of ASPR’s Office of Industrial Base Management and Supply Chain (IBMSC).

The company’s chargers are designed to the Combined Charging System (CCS) standard, a system originally created to be the norm for electric ground vehicles. The systems so far have been purchased by the U.S. Air Force, airports, FBOs such as Atlantic and Signature Aviation, and even other electric aircraft manufacturers such as Archer Aviation.

Beta is developing two electric aircraft that will use the systems: one that takes off conventionally (the Alia CTOL or CX300) and another that lifts off vertically like a helicopter (the Alia VTOL). But the chargers can use grid-tied energy to juice up other manufacturers’ aircraft, as well as electric ground vehicles.

Quicker and Cheaper

According to Beta, electric chargers and vehicles will lower operating costs compared to existing air ambulances. The company further claims electric aircraft such as the Alia CTOL and Alia VTOL fare better in inclement weather, enabling higher usage rates and fewer missed opportunities.

“HHS and ASPR are on the front lines of these issues and we’re excited to be working with them on meaningful, capital-efficient solutions that benefit the public,” said Kyle Clark, founder and CEO of Beta. “We believe this work has the potential to increase access to healthcare and essential services for all types of geographies, including the historically harder-to-reach ones.”

An ASPR spokesperson told Inc. magazine that the aircraft tied to the program will carry a pilot plus four passengers or three pallets of medical supplies, which could include vaccines, personal protective equipment, and other gear. The spokesperson also said that Beta will study pathogen containment on its aircraft in order to transport contagious patients.

The 22 new charging locations will join Beta’s network of more than 30 sites, with another 50 in the construction or permitting process. Some of these locations overlap with the company’s commercial customers, such as Atlantic at Jackson-Medgar Airport in Mississippi. But Beta tells FLYING the chargers will be publicly accessible, meaning they could facilitate an HHS organ transplant and an Atlantic passenger flight on the same day.

Beta aims to certify its Alia CTOL with the FAA and launch the model in 2025, followed by the Alia VTOL in 2026.

Like this story? We think you’ll also like the Future of FLYING newsletter sent every Thursday afternoon. Sign up now.

The post Beta Granted $20M to Explore Electric Aircraft and Chargers for Emergency Response appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The company on Monday said it completed the first pilot training program for its Alia CTOL (also called the CX300) with a customer, United Therapeutics (UT), and its subsidiary, Unither Bioelectronics. Beta took company leaders and flight operations executives through its full CX300 pilot training syllabus, which the company intends to use during future in-aircraft training once approved by the FAA.

The move represents a step toward finalizing a CX300 training product to accompany initial aircraft deliveries to customers. Beta expects to begin deliveries next year following type certification.

UT was Beta’s first customer, placing an order for the company’s electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) Alia model and electric charging stations. The firm is also an investor, having provided Beta with $52 million to get off the ground and a $48 million contract to build Alia, which it helped design. Martine Rothblatt, founder and CEO of UT and a member of the Beta board, was the first noncompany pilot to fly the aircraft.

When Beta unveiled the CX300 in 2023, UT was one of its first customers alongside Bristow Group and Air New Zealand. The company intends to use the two aircraft to quickly transport medical cargo, such as 3D-printed organs, at what Beta claims will be a fraction of the cost of conventional designs.

Both models are fully electric and designed to carry up to 1,000 pounds of cargo, or as many as five passengers, in a space of 200 cubic feet, cruising at 135 knots. The Alia has an expected range of 250 nm, while the more robust CX300 has demonstrated a range of 336 nm during test flights.

Beta has already begun installing a nationwide network of electric charging stations for its aircraft to tap into and is working with FBO networks such as Signature Aviation and Atlantic Aviation to electrify their terminals.

But one major step remaining for the company, and all electric aircraft manufacturers, is developing a pilot training curriculum.

Beta’s tailored CX300 syllabus, which the company said it has been refining for years, must still be approved by an FAA Flight Standards District Office. Walking a customer through the process, though, suggests that the firm is anticipating the green light sooner rather than later.

Over three days, Beta took a team comprising seasoned Unither helicopter and fixed-wing pilots through a three-step curriculum covering ground training requirements, familiarization with the aircraft and its systems, and operational employment for air ambulance missions.

The process began with overviews of the aircraft’s manuals, aerodynamics, concept of operations, limitations, and requirements, followed by reviews of its electric propulsion technology, fly-by-wire flight controls, and other atypical systems.

Capping off the campaign was a series of simulator rehearsals, during which Unither pilots completed practical exercises, performance planning, and preflight and ground operations. These culminated in two simulated missions—one IFR, one VFR—along routes the company intends to fly with the aircraft.

“The tailored syllabus from this event will be used with future in-aircraft training utilizing Beta’s dual-seat trainer configuration,” Beta said.

Beta so far has trained eight of its own pilots to fly the CX300, in addition to Rothblatt and pilots from the FAA, U.S. Air Force, Army, and customers UPS and Bristow. This year, it completed several “real-world” missions during two CX300 deployments for the Air Force under its contract with AFWERX, the department’s innovation arm.

More recently, Beta received a lift when the FAA authorized it to begin training pilots on its Alia eVTOL. The company tells FLYING it will eventually walk UT and Unither pilots through a separate curriculum for that model.

Like this story? We think you’ll also like the Future of FLYING newsletter sent every Thursday afternoon. Sign up now.

The post Beta Walks First Customer Through Electric Aircraft Pilot Curriculum appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The company on Wednesday said the agency granted it a letter of authorization (LOA) to start dual seat pilot training of “manufacturer and FAA personnel,” such as the aviation safety inspector who will ultimately help certify the aircraft for commercial service.

Trainees will ride along with one of Beta’s eight powered lift test pilots, as outlined in the FAA’s powered lift pilot training proposal, which requires eVTOL training aircraft to have dual controls. The FAA reviewed the ground, simulation, and flight training procedures used to train that group before issuing the LOA.

In addition to the A250, Beta is developing an electric conventional takeoff and landing (eCTOL) model called the CX300. That design has already been flown by pilots from the FAA, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, and companies such as UPS and Bristow Group.

The company’s eVTOL, meanwhile, is one of a handful of designs to complete a crewed transition from hover to cruise flight, but testing has largely been concentrated around its headquarters in Vermont.

Beta tells FLYING that the aircraft is configured with dual controls by default. But if the operator plans to operate a single-seat, the company will sell them a single-seat model with provisions for dual controls. The cockpit can be fitted with dual controls in about 20 minutes, according to the firm.

There is no limit on the number of pilots Beta can train under the approval. Though the FAA has yet to sign off on the firm’s use of a simulator to train pilots, the company says it is developing a simulator that will meet FAA requirements for a qualified training device.

The manufacturer expects to obtain FAA certification for its eCTOL model in 2025, followed by authorization for the A250 in 2026. It is in the process of building out a nationwide network of electric aircraft chargers for both aircraft to use, including at FBO terminals.

Like this story? We think you’ll also like the Future of FLYING newsletter sent every Thursday afternoon. Sign up now.

The post Beta Gets FAA Sign-Off to Begin eVTOL Pilot Training appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The firm on Thursday announced a formal partnership with Signature Aviation, a FBO network for business and private aviation, to install systems at three East Coast airports, with discussions underway to include additional locations.

The first multimodal Beta charger is already installed and online at Signature’s Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (KMHT) terminal in New Hampshire, which the company said is the state’s first such system.

“Manchester is emerging as one of the top high-tech hubs in the Northeast, and we are honored that Manchester-Boston Regional Airport was chosen as Signature and BETA’s first operational electric aviation site,” said KMHT director Ted Kitchens. “This interoperable charging station will help enable Manchester and southern New Hampshire to have better access to electric aviation, which will bring us better regional air mobility as we move into this exciting new era of electric transportation.”

Additional chargers—which Beta said will come online this summer—are being installed on Signature terminals at Frederick Municipal Airport (KFDK) in Maryland and Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport (KCHO) in Virgina.

“As one of the leading private terminal operators anywhere in the world, Signature takes a forward-leaning approach to best serve their broad base of aviators,” said Nate Ward, head of network development for Beta. “Beta has long been focused on building a reliable, accessible network of chargers for aircraft, and this collaboration represents another important pathway toward scaling our network.”

Beta’s chargers are designed to be multimodal and interoperable, accessible to the company’s aircraft, other developers’ electric models, or any electric air or ground vehicle.

The systems adhere to the international combined charging system (CCS) standard, which has also been proposed as the standard for electric ground vehicles. In September, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) endorsed the CCS alongside Beta, Archer Aviation, Lilium, Volocopter, Overair, Boeing’s Wisk Aero, and several other electric air taxi manufacturers.

Joby Aviation, one of Beta’s U.S. competitors, has proposed its own charging standard—the global electric aviation charging system (GEACS)—which it touts as an alternative to the CCS. In the electric ground vehicle space, Tesla’s North American charging system (NACS) is gradually supplanting the CCS as the industry standard. But Beta and others are pushing for the latter to become the norm in aviation.

Signature is Beta’s third FBO partner. The partnership follows a deal with Atlantic Aviation to install systems at New York’s Elmira Regional Airport (KELM), Birmingham International Airport (KBHM) in Alabama, Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (KJAN) in Mississippi, and Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport (KBAF) in Massachusetts. The Elmira site is already online.

Beta in February also partnered with FBO network AvFlight to inaugurate an electric aircraft charger at Golden Triangle Regional Airport (KGTR) in Columbus, Mississippi. The partners said it was the first such system to be installed in the state.

Now Signature, which bills itself as world’s largest private aviation terminal operator, is getting in on the action.

“We are thrilled to further solidify our partnership with Beta, which underscores our unwavering commitment to shaping the future of aviation through our sustainability initiatives in Signature Renew,” said Derek DeCross, chief commercial officer for Signature Aviation. “Together with Beta, we’re not only creating greater access to electric aviation but also unlocking new possibilities in regional air mobility for our guests, all while championing sustainability and innovation in the aviation industry.”

Signature earlier this week rebranded to emphasize its focus on aviation hospitality, customer experience, and sustainability. The firm achieved carbon neutrality across its entire global network in 2022 and last year said it pumped its 25th million gallon of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

The company’s three East Coast sites now join Beta’s U.S. charging network, which spans the coast from Vermont to Florida and extends as far west as Arkansas. Chargers have now been installed at 19 locations, with another 50 sites in the permitting or construction process, Beta said Thursday.

Within the manufacturer’s network is the first electric aircraft charger installed at a Department of Defense (DOD) base. Customers include the DOD, regional and state-owned airports, FBOs, and even other electric aircraft developers.

Beta is already using the sites to charge its all-electric aircraft. It stopped at several charging stations in October during a 12-state, 1,500 nm journey to Eglin Air Force Base’s Duke Field (KEGI) in Florida, where it recently concluded an initial three-month deployment for the U.S. Air Force.

Like this story? We think you’ll also like the Future of FLYING newsletter sent every Thursday afternoon. Sign up now.

The post Beta Technologies, Signature Aviation to Install Electric Aircraft Chargers at 3 Airports appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The manufacturer and vertical flight provider on Wednesday hosted more than 100 spectators for a demonstration of Beta’s electric Alia conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) aircraft—which the company intends to launch commercially in 2025—in Houma, Louisiana, about 50 miles southwest of New Orleans. The companies claim the aircraft is the first of its kind to arrive in the state.

Beta also asserts that the Alia CTOL is the first electric aircraft to be flown by the U.S. Air Force, Army, FAA, and now Bristow pilots. Bristow placed a firm order for five vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) Aria variants, with an option for 50 more, in August 2022. When Beta announced plans for the CTOL model, the operator placed an additional deposit-backed order for 50 conventional aircraft.

“We designed Alia with the goal of carrying out the most critical missions in a safer, cleaner, and more efficient manner,” said Kyle Clark, founder and CEO of Beta. “We’re excited to fly Alia into Bristow’s home base in Louisiana, marking the first time an electric aircraft has flown in the state and the next step of our partnership together as we look to execute real missions in the market.”

In addition, Bristow has placed orders for 50 electric short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft from Electra.aero, as many as 80 Volocopter VoloCity eVTOLs, and up to 100 Elroy Air Chaparral VTOL cargo drones.

Bristow primarily provides services to offshore energy companies and government entities, conducting missions such as personnel transport and search and rescue. Now, the company is looking to introduce electric, zero-emission aviation to its markets worldwide, complementing its catalog of vertical flight offerings with advanced air mobility (AAM) services.

The nearby Gulf of Mexico is one of the firm’s largest service regions, but it also has customers in 17 countries.

“Our vision is to be an innovator in flight solutions,” said Dave Stepanek, executive vice president and chief transformation officer at Bristow. “We believe aircraft like Beta’s Alia can expand our offerings and complement some of our current services. Our thinking is our current customers are natural AAM customers initially. We believe it will open up many new possibilities in the Gulf region.”

Among the more than 100 attendees at Beta and Bristow’s demonstration in Houma were local politicians, airport officials, customers, and subject matter experts. Spectators watched the CTOL make several passes over the airfield to exhibit its maneuverability.

“These new technologies have the potential to make certain missions more efficient, quieter, more accessible, and more sustainable,” said Chris Bradshaw, president and CEO of Bristow. “We view AAM as a natural extension of Bristow’s core competencies of safe and reliable vertical flight solutions, and we see multiple avenues for Bristow to participate in the emerging AAM value chain.”

Added Clark: “Bristow has built a strong reputation doing this across the globe, and continues to lean forward to what’s next. The team has been a crucial partner to Beta over the years, providing input and support every step of the way from design to mission application to aircraft handling feedback.”

The CTOL’s visit to Bristow—one of its first stops on the way back to Beta’s Burlington, Vermont, headquarters—follows the conclusion of Beta’s first electric aircraft deployment for the Air Force at Eglin Air Force Base’s Duke Field (KEGI) in Florida. There, the aircraft flew simulated missions including the first simulated casualty evacuation with an electric aircraft.

Beta said Alia, en route to Duke, became the first electric aircraft to fly in the flight restricted zone of Washington, D.C., stopping at nodes in Beta’s expanding electric charging network along the way. That network includes a charging station at Duke, which was the first electric aircraft charger to be installed at a Department of Defense site. According to the company, nearly 20 locations are now online, with a further 50 in development.

Beta’s charging network will support AAM operations nationwide when the time comes, opening up as many airfields as possible for Alia, as well as all electric aircraft and ground vehicles, the company says. The firm hopes to introduce the CTOL in 2025, followed by the VTOL variant in 2026.

Like this story? We think you’ll also like the Future of FLYING newsletter sent every Thursday afternoon. Sign up now.

The post Beta Technologies, Bristow Group Bring First Electric Aircraft to Louisiana appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Beta on Monday announced that it concluded its first deployment with the DOD at Eglin Air Force Base’s Duke Field (KEGI) in Florida. The three-month campaign involved Beta’s electric Alia CTOL, a mobile flight simulator, and the company’s built-in-house charging system.

U.S. Air Force pilots took Alia out for on-base and cross-country missions, completing performance evaluations and pilot and maintenance assessments. They also conducted experimental operations and training with the 413th Flight Test Squadron, an Air Force unit stationed at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia.

The deployment was part of the Agility Prime program, the vertical lift division of the Air Force’s innovation arm, AFWERX. Beta and AFWERX’s relationship dates back to 2020, when the Air Force unit first contracted the manufacturer. 

According to Beta, the three-month campaign is the next phase of a larger Air Force developmental test and evaluation (DT&E) effort to gauge the fit of electric aircraft for DOD missions. These could include critical resupply, cargo delivery, and personnel transport, use cases that mirror real-life operations the Air Force has planned.

The Alia CTOL arrived at Duke Field in October after flying 1,500 nm down the East Coast. During the flight, it traveled through Class B airspace in Boston and New York City. Alia also became the first electric aircraft to fly through Washington, D.C.’s flight restricted zone, en route to a stop at Joint Base Andrews.

In addition to flying Alia, Air Force pilots used Beta’s MobileDome simulator to rehearse flights, practice emergency procedures, and obtain feedback from DOD subject matter experts. Last year, the manufacturer installed a Level 3 DC fast-charger—the first electric aircraft charging station at a DOD site—to juice up Alia between test flights.

Major Milestones

Together, Beta and the 413th Flight Test Squadron assessed Alia’s flight operations, maintenance support, and ability to identify infrared signatures, among other tasks. The missions out of Duke Field ranged from short sorties to extended flights, averaging $15 per flight in energy costs.

One key achievement was the first simulated casualty evacuation with an electric aircraft. The experiment demonstrated how Alia could improve response times at forward operating bases (FOBs) in foreign territory. A Lockheed Martin HH-60W rescue helicopter carried a simulated casualty halfway to medical care, but Alia finished the mission, relieving the helicopter and its crew earlier than currently feasible.

The exercise also showed how electric aircraft can reduce evacuation resource requirements. For a sample trip, a Lockheed C-130 Hercules would require a crew of at least three and expend about $1,600 in fuel. But Alia could complete the same mission with a two-person crew and an energy cost of just $5 in electricity.

Alia also completed a Maintenance Recovery Team (MRT) mission, flying to a nearby Air Force base to collect parts, then back to Duke to service a simulated aircraft. The aircraft flew a distance normally relegated to driving, which the DOD said could open cost and workforce savings.

For example, the cost estimate for a maintenance response of a home-unit based Alia, covering two flight legs, is about $25 worth of electricity and an hour of flight time. A standard Ford F-250 pickup covering the same geographical distance would spend about $45 on fuel and drive for four hours.

Those faster response times could enable same-day maintenance and reduced aircraft downtime. The latter could in turn eliminate unexpected DOD lodging costs or the cost of transport to recover fixed aircraft.

While Air Force pilots whizzed around the sky conducting experiments, Beta pilots flew Alia from Duke Field to Valdosta, Georgia, where the company commissioned a new charger at Valdosta Regional Airport (KVLD).

A Key Partnership

Since collaborating with AFWERX in 2020, Beta has gone on to achieve several electric aviation firsts with the Air Force’s help.

In 2021, it became the first electric aircraft manufacturer to receive airworthiness approval from the military for crewed flight. The following year, it conducted the industry’s first and only airman flight with test pilots from the Air Force and Army. Also in 2022, Alia completed a groundbreaking eight-leg, 1,219 nm cross-country flight spanning six states.

Those achievements may not have been possible without AFWERX’s help. Based on Beta’s comment that its recent deployment is only the “next phase” in a grander plan, the DOD may continue its relationship with the manufacturer. The department is also working with rival air taxi manufacturer Archer Aviation and several other developers of electric aircraft.

If all goes according to plan, Beta’s Alia CTOL will enter service in 2025, followed by an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) variant in 2026. In October, the company opened a 188,500-square-foot production facility, where it will begin manufacturing when the time comes.

Like this story? We think you’ll also like the Future of FLYING newsletter sent every Thursday afternoon. Sign up now.

The post Beta Technologies Concludes First Electric Aircraft Deployment for Air Force appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Helijet International Inc. on Tuesday announced that it placed firm orders for Beta Technologies’ Alia-250 electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi, becoming the first Canadian air carrier to purchase such a design. Helijet, Beta’s first commercial customer in Canada, also expects to be the first air carrier to offer eVTOL passenger and cargo services in the country.

The British Columbia-based firm claims to be the largest and longest-standing helicopter airline in North America. As far as scheduled passenger helicopter airlines go, Helijet and New York City-based Blade Urban Air Mobility are the only major regional players. In 2021, Blade partnered with Helijet’s booking platform to expand into Canada.

Once Beta’s Alia is certified and delivered, Helijet plans to add the aircraft to its existing fleet, which is composed of Eurocopter AS350 B2s, Sikorsky S76s, Learjet 31As, and Pilatus PC-12s.

How Helijet Will Deploy Alia

Though there are similarities between helicopters and eVTOL designs—the most obvious being the ability to take off and land vertically—Alia doesn’t quite match the performance of the aforementioned models. Its 50-foot wingspan is similar. But its 250 nm range and 100 knot cruise speed are more restrictive. However, Beta’s design is expected to be 90 percent quieter than comparable helicopters.

Alia will be integrated into Helijet’s passenger transport operations in southwest British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest, offering sustainable, quiet flights for a pilot and up to five passengers at a time. Beta and Helijet claim these trips will cost less than current helicopter flights, making them particularly valuable to rural or remote communities lacking convenient air services.

The eVTOL aircraft are also expected to bolster Helijet’s emergency response, air ambulance, and organ transfer services in Canada’s Lower Mainland region.

Over the past two years, the helicopter airline has shortlisted three eVTOL manufacturers building aircraft designed to fit into advanced air mobility (AAM) ecosystems. Though Beta will be its first supplier, the company will continue to evaluate orders for other nominated designs.

Helijet selected Alia in part due to Beta’s plan to certify the aircraft for IFR operations. The firm is also interested in growing its industrial base in Canada, where Beta in March opened an engineering and research and development hub at Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (CYUL).

Beta also has a partnership with Canada’s CAE, a large training OEM and provider of flight simulators, to develop pilot and maintenance technician training programs for Alia. Rival eVTOL manufacturer Joby Aviation has a similar agreement.

“With its mature air travel market demographic and existing challenges for conventional transportation between Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland, southern B.C. provides an exciting opportunity to demonstrate the commercial viability and environmental sustainability of AAM in B.C. and Canada,” said JR Hammond, executive director of Canadian Advanced Air Mobility (CAAM), the country’s national AAM consortium, of which Helijet is a founding member.

Citing a 2020 white paper from Nexa Advisors, another member of the CAAM consortium, Helijet and Beta estimate that, over the next 15 to 20 years, the Greater Vancouver area has the potential to serve 4.2 million passengers using eVTOL aircraft. That could translate to about $1.5 billion (2.1 million Canadian dollars) in new AAM business activity.

To support those aims, Helijet is leading the development of a commercial vertiport at its downtown Vancouver waterfront heliport. The site is planned to be an intermodal transportation hub, connecting AAM passengers with road, marine, air, and rail access throughout the region.

“This provincial government recognizes the potential of advanced air mobility to decarbonize the aviation sector, improve regional connectivity, improve emergency response times and introduce new manufacturing opportunities in our province,” said British Columbia Premier David Eby, who attended the announcement of the deal at Helijet’s Victoria Harbour Heliport (CBF7).

Alia’s Flight Path

Per Tuesday’s announcement, Alia is in “advanced flight standards development” and on track for commercial certification in 2026, one year after Beta’s eCTOL (electric conventional takeoff and landing) variant is expected to be approved. Shortly after, it will be available for private and commercial service.

Beta so far has conducted eVTOL evaluation flights with the FAA, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Army. The aircraft has completed multiple thousand-mile-plus jaunts across the U.S., the most recent of which saw it travel more than 1,500 nm across 12 states en route to Duke Field (KEGI), a military airport at Florida’s Eglin Air Force Base. Beta also delivered an electric aircraft charging station to Eglin in September, the first to arrive on an Air Force base.

Alia’s flight from the company’s home field in Plattsburgh, New York, to Eglin represented Beta’s first eVTOL delivery to a contracted partner. Just weeks earlier, the firm’s eCTOL completed a cross-border flight from Plattsburgh to Montreal, marking the first time a battery-utilizing electric aircraft landed in the city.

“Between our growing engineering hub in Montreal, our first cross-border flight to the region earlier this year, and the support we’ve received from the government and regulators across Canada, we look forward to continuing to grow our presence in the country,” said Kyle Clark, founder and CEO of Beta.

In addition to Helijet, Beta has Alia purchase orders from UPS, Blade, Bristow Group, LCI Aviation, United Therapeutics, and Air New Zealand, and the aircraft are expected to fulfill a variety of use cases. However, Beta plans to target cargo and medical delivery and military and defense missions before transporting passengers, per Tuesday’s announcement.

Earlier this month, the company opened a 188,500-square-foot final assembly plant at Vermont’s Burlington International Airport (KBTV), which it says is the first such operational facility for electric aircraft in the U.S. Beta also claims the site is the largest net-zero manufacturing plant east of the Mississippi River.

Like this story? We think you’ll also like the Future of FLYING newsletter sent every Thursday afternoon. Sign up now.

The post Canada’s Helijet Makes History with Beta eVTOL Order appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The Alia’s arrival at Duke marks the company’s first delivery of an aircraft to a contracted partner and the Air Force’s receipt of its first manned Beta aircraft. Beta recently worked with the Air Force to arrange the installation and commissioning of one of the company’s chargers at Duke Field earlier this month.

• READ MORE: Beta Technologies Opens Electric-Aircraft Assembly Plant in Vermont

Beta said the aircraft and its main flight testing team will stay at Duke for several months to work with the 413th Squadron to conduct hands-on experimentation and training with the Alia and its related technology. As part of the program, the Air Force will test and validate potential uses for the aircraft, including critical resupply, cargo delivery, and personnel transport.

During the trip from its home field in Plattsburgh, New York (KPBG), the Beta crew flew the Alia more than 1,500 nm across 12 states using a special market research certificate issued by the FAA. The company said it used the series of flights to test the aircraft in many challenging scenarios, such as flying through Boston’s Class B airspace and the Flight Restricted Zone around Washington, D.C. Beta also met with local airport and municipal officials during its many stops along the route and marked the installation of a charging station at Marshfield Municipal Airport (KHGH) in Massachusetts with a ribbon-cutting ceremony earlier this month.

• READ MORE: Beta Technologies, Shoreline Aviation Partner with Massachusetts Agencies to Promote Electric Aviation

The company also held a groundbreaking event for the first electric aircraft charger in North Carolina at Raleigh Executive Jetport (KTTA), a project conducted in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Transportation and AFWERX, an Air Force program that fosters innovation within its ranks.

“For the past several years, AFWERX has provided critical input and support to the Beta programs. Deploying Alia for experimentation and training at Duke Field is the natural next step in our partnership,” said Kyle Clark, Beta’s founder and CEO. “We look forward to working hand-in-hand with the U.S. Air Force over the next few months as we work together to assess how the economic, sustainability, and energy independence benefits of electric aviation can serve our military.”

To supplement its collaboration, Beta provided a mobile simulator for training Air Force pilots in preparation for operations in the full-size Alia aircraft.

“The Department of the Air Force is constantly searching for the next generation of technology to make our warfighters safer and more efficient,” said Colonel Elliott Leigh, AFWERX director and chief commercialization officer for the Department of the Air Force. “As agile innovators, we believe that partnering with American businesses is the key to this goal for delivering disruptive air capabilities.”

Beta said its Alia eCTOL and eVTOL aircraft continue to progress toward FAA certification. The company said it anticipates the eCTOL model will enter service in 2025 followed by the eVTOL in 2026.

The post Beta Technologies’ Alia Electric Aircraft, Crew Arrive at Eglin AFB for Testing Program appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The company said it has begun installing the assembly tooling and production line systems, marking “a significant milestone along [Beta’s] path to delivering its electric aircraft to military and commercial customers.

• READ MORE: Beta Technologies’ Electric Aircraft Completes Cross-Border Flight

The production facility, which covers 188,500 square feet, is expected to result in the creation of hundreds of jobs as Beta ramps up to a maximum production rate of 300 aircraft annually. The facility is located on a 40-acre site with the potential to double its size if necessary.

“The team here at [Beta] is excited to enter the next phase of our growing electric aerospace business,” said Kyle Clark, CEO and founder of Beta. “We have worked through research, engineering, prototyping, test flying, initial phases of certification, and now we are entering our next important step of starting production in an inspiring facility. The internal [Beta] team along with many awesome local contractors, tradespeople, and civil servants have challenged each other to create a beautiful, sustainable, and functional building for producing the future of aviation. We are incredibly thankful to this community.”

• READ MORE: Beta Technologies Reveals Electric Aircraft In Development

Thus far, Beta has flown more than 500 piloted flights on its own in-house-built battery systems and conducted more than 10,000 hours of testing on electric motors produced on its pilot production lines, the company said. Because of partnerships with many of its main suppliers, according to Beta, the company has conducted most of its test flights, totaling 26,000 miles, using the same supplier parts and systems to be implemented on its production aircraft.

The company also said it will use a Garmin avionics suite for its integrated flight deck. Beta said it has collaborated with Garmin to tailor its standard commercial products to its IFR-capable aircraft. The company has also partnered with numerous other aerospace suppliers for key systems and materials, including lithium-ion battery cells, propellers, and exterior lighting. Some of those suppliers have provided systems installed in the company’s test aircraft and simulators.

Beta also noted that Monday’s opening adds to its other operations in Vermont, including its R&D headquarters and a maintenance and training hangar in South Burlington, pilot manufacturing facilities in Williston, and a battery research center in St. Albans.

“The opening of the production facility is incredibly good news for Vermont and another huge step forward for Beta,” said former Vermont U.S. senator Patrick Leahy. “I’m thrilled for Kyle and the whole team at Beta to see their hard work pay off, and I’m excited to continue to watch them thrive, innovate, and grow in the Green Mountain State.”

The post Beta Technologies Opens Electric-Aircraft Assembly Plant in Vermont appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The company landed its battery-powered Alia eCTOL, an electric conventional takeoff and landing aircraft, at the Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (CYUL) on September 27. The 30-minute flight began at Beta’s flight test center at Plattsburgh International Airport (KPBG) in New York, and covered 55 nm.

Beta test pilot Chris Caputo flew the Alia with flight test engineer Emma Davis flying in the right seat. The flight included traversing the Class B airspace of Trudeau international, which typically serves an average of 53,000 passengers daily.

• READ MORE: Beta Technologies Will Deliver Electric Aircraft, Chargers to Air Force Base

Beta flew the aircraft to its Montréal office, which the company opened in March as part of a plan to tap into the region’s pool of aerospace talent. The company’s Canadian team has since grown to 70 and is expected to expand further as Beta’s aircraft move closer to certification.

“Beta’s technological and operational achievement of successfully completing the all-electric binational flight from Plattsburgh, New York, to Montreal’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, marks a major turning point for the entire industry, the region and the aerospace sector in Quebec,” said Mélanie Lussier, president of Aéro Montréal, and one of a group of industry leaders present for the electric aircraft’s arrival. “This major first demonstrates the industry’s commitment to sustainable mobility, and the fruit of collaborative innovation to redefine, create and commercialize an entirely new response for the aviation sector.”

• READ MORE: Beta Technologies Reveals Electric Aircraft In Development

“It’s exciting to have this opportunity to fly our all-electric aircraft into one of the busiest airports in one of the top aerospace capitals of the world. Our aircraft design is being developed by a collaborative, cross-border team of talented engineers, many of whom are based right here at our growing hub in Montréal,” said Kyle Clark, Beta’s founder and CEO “ Quebec’s focus on sustainability and carbon neutrality matches ours at Beta, and we are grateful for the support of our partners in the region, like ICAO, AéroMontréal, the airport, and the delegation.”

Prior to this first international flight, Beta has flown its prototype aircraft more than 22,000 nm during the past three years, including flights halfway across the U.S. The company used its own charging infrastructure for the flights, which included test pilots from the FAA and the U.S. military.

The company said it is moving quickly toward FAA certification of its eCTOL and eVTOL aircraft designs.

The post Beta Technologies’ Electric Aircraft Completes Cross-Border Flight appeared first on FLYING Magazine.