Read the latest news about Beta Technologies.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

<p>Beta Technologies’ Alia prototype conducted a public flight demonstration in Louisiana on February 7, marking the first flight of an electric aircraft in the Bayou State, according to the Vermont-based manufacturer. The Alia aircraft&nbsp;arrived in Louisiana on February 5,&nbsp;two weeks after it wrapped up a three-month&nbsp;<a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2024-01-30/betas-electric-air-taxi-demonstrates-military-use-cases">deployment on a U.S. Air Force base</a> in Florida. &nbsp;</p>
<p>Together with its partner and customer Bristow Group, Beta hosted a viewing event for the flight at Houma-Terrebonne Airport (KHUM), located about 50 miles southwest of New Orleans. More than 100 attendees witnessed the flight, including Beta customers, local politicians, and airport officials. The piloted prototype&nbsp;made two passes over the airport during the flight, which lasted less than 10 minutes, a company spokesperson told <strong>AIN</strong>.</p>
<p>The airplane that flew in Louisiana was built as a prototype for Beta’s eVTOL aircraft, although it does not have vertical takeoff and landing capabilities. Last year Beta announced it would pursue FAA type certification for the conventional-takeoff-and-landing (CTOL) configuration of its electric aircraft in addition to the previously planned Alia 250 eVTOL model.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The eCTOL version, called CX300, is expected to enter service in 2025, followed by the Alia 250 eVTOL in 2026. Both can carry a pilot plus five passengers or up to 1,400 pounds (635 kilograms) of cargo. While Beta anticipates its eVTOL aircraft will have a range of 250 miles, the eCTOL prototype has flown as far as 386 miles (621 kilometers) on a single charge during flight tests.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Bristow Group, which operates a global fleet of more than 240 rotorcraft, <a href="https://futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-08-09/bristow-orders-55-betas-alia-250-evtol-aircraft">placed a firm order</a> in August 2022 for five Alia 250 eVTOL aircraft with options for another 50. After Beta announced its plans to certify <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-03-13/beta-technologies-plans-certify-electric-ctol-airplane">the conventional CX300 model</a>, Bristow placed an additional deposit-backed order for 50 CX300s. Bristow primarily serves customers in the oil and gas sector, although it also provides charter flights and search-and-rescue services.&nbsp;</p>
<p>As the advanced air mobility (AAM) industry has been picking up steam over the past few years, Bristow has been making plans to electrify its fleet. The company has placed orders and signed provisional sales agreements with several other electric aircraft manufacturers, including Lilium, Vertical Aerospace, Electra, Eve Air Mobility, Overair, and Elroy Air.&nbsp;</p>
<p>“We believe aircraft like Beta’s Alia will play an important part in the future of aviation. These new technologies have the potential to make certain missions more efficient, quieter, more accessible, and more sustainable,” said Bristow president and CEO Chris Bradshaw. “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.”</p>
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            <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item">  <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/futureflight/import/BETA%20at%20Montgomery.jpg" width="4032" height="3024" alt="Opening of Beta's recharging equipment at Montgomery Regional Airport in Alabama" title="Local officials attended a February 5 event to mark the opening of Beta's electric aircraft recharging equipment at Montgomery Regional Airport in Alabama. (Image: Beta Technologies)">

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            <div class="field field--name-field-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Local officials attended a February 5 event to mark the opening of Beta's electric aircraft recharging equipment at Montgomery Regional Airport in Alabama. (Image: Beta Technologies)</div>
      
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<figcaption>Local officials attended a February 5 event to mark the opening of Beta's electric aircraft recharging equipment at Montgomery Regional Airport in Alabama. (Image: Beta Technologies)</figcaption>
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<p>Under its plans to lay the groundwork for electric aircraft operations, Beta recently announced the installation of a pair of recharging stations at Alabama's Montgomery Regional Airport. The equipment was installed last week in partnership with Alabama Power. At an event on February 5, officials from the power company, the airport, Alabama's Department of Transportation watched an Alia aircraft land and take the inaugural charge.</p>
<p>Beta has now installed chargers at 17 sites across the U.S. and it is working on 55 additional locations for public and private applications with commercial, military, and medical partners. The equipment it has developed in-house can charge batteries for multiple aircraft types and ground vehicles.</p>
<p>"As we move closer to getting electric aircraft into operation, it is critical that we are building charging infrastructure where our customers need it," said Beta's chief operations officer Blain Newton. "Montgomery marks the first charger in Alabama as we continue to deploy our chargers in key markets that will help accelerate connectivity among regional and rural communities."</p>


Science & Technology Editor

Hanneke Weitering

Beta’s Alia Electric Aircraft Touches Down in Louisiana to Visit Partner Bristow

<p>Beta Technologies’ Alia prototype has wrapped up its first deployment with the U.S. Air Force, which is evaluating defense applications for new electric air taxis and eVTOL aircraft. The Vermont-based aircraft developer had its Alia prototype stationed for three months at Eglin Air Force Base in the Florida Panhandle, where the company worked with the Air Force’s 413th Flight Test Squadron to conduct on-base experimentation and operational training.</p>
<p>Beta is developing <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-03-13/beta-technologies-plans-certify-electric-ctol-airplane">eVTOL and eCTOL</a> (conventional takeoff and landing) versions of its Alia aircraft, both of which will be available in cargo configurations or as five-passenger air taxis. While the company has said it expects the eVTOL aircraft to have a range of about 250 miles, the eCTOL prototype has already flown up to 386 miles on a single charge. The eCTOL model, called CX300, is expected to receive FAA type certification in 2025, with the Alia-250 eVTOL model to follow in 2026.</p>
<p>The U.S. Air Force has been working with Beta since 2020 via its Afwerx Agility Prime program, which aims to advance electric aviation technologies through public-private collaboration. Beta became the first eVTOL developer to receive <a href="https://futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-05-04/us-air-force-awards-airworthiness-approval-betas-alia-evtol-prototype">military airworthiness approval</a>, and Air Force pilots first flew on the Alia prototype in March 2022.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The prototype <a href="https://futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-10-26/betas-electric-airplane-lands-air-force-base-florida">arrived at Duke Field</a>, a military airport on Eglin AFB, in late October. Beta <a href="https://futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-09-14/betas-electric-aircraft-and-charging-station-coming-eglin-air-force-base">installed a charging station</a> there in September to enable on-site recharging, which takes less than an hour using the company’s 350-kilowatt, Level 3 DC fast charger. In addition to its two electric aircraft models, Beta is building out a network of charging stations at airports across the U.S. to prepare for the launch of commercial services—and to recharge the Alia prototype during several cross-country treks. Beta has installed its chargers in at least 17 locations so far and has another 55 sites in the permitting or construction process. Just last week, the company installed one at Valdosta Regional Airport in Georgia.&nbsp;</p>
<h3 class="subheading"><strong>Alia Demonstrates&nbsp;Casualty Evacuation and Maintenance Missions</strong></h3>
<p>During the Alia’s deployment at Eglin, the USAF tested several potential defense use cases for the aircraft, including personnel transport and the delivery of maintenance supplies. For this deployment, the aircraft “was configured for an array of cargo-focused missions” rather than the six-seat, passenger-carrying format, “so we did not need to reconfigure in these instances,” a Beta spokesperson told <strong>AIN</strong>.</p>
<p>Beta and the 413th Flight Test Squadron also conducted a simulated casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) exercise together with the 41st Rescue Squadron at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia. For the CASEVAC exercise, a quick reaction force (QRF) flying in an HH-60W combat rescue helicopter transported a Rescue Randy mannequin from a forward operating base (FOB) to another operating location in “friendly territory,” where the dummy patient was transferred to the Alia and flown to a medical facility.&nbsp;</p>
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            <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item">  <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/futureflight/import/Beta_alia_casevac_eglinAFB.jpg" width="2200" height="1080" alt="Beta's Alia prototype is pictured on the tarmac with an HH-60W combat rescue helicopter flying in the background" title="Beta's Alia prototype conducted a simulated casualty evacuation mission in tandem with an HH-60W combat rescue helicopter. (Photo: Beta Technologies)">

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            <div class="field field--name-field-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Beta's Alia prototype conducted a simulated casualty evacuation mission in tandem with an HH-60W combat rescue helicopter. (Photo: Beta Technologies)</div>
      
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<figcaption>Beta's Alia prototype conducted a simulated casualty evacuation mission in tandem with an HH-60W combat rescue helicopter. (Photo: Beta Technologies)</figcaption>
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<p>“This scenario demonstrates key impacts electric aviation can have on military services, including an increase in response time at the FOB,” Beta officials said in a statement. “The HH-60 was able to initiate the movement of the QRF sooner than if it had to move the patient to definitive medical care. The decision to transport the patient the total distance in the HH-60W [versus] stopping at an intermediate location is based on suitable runway availability and availability of an aircraft for transport such as a C-130.”</p>
<p>According to Beta, a similar CASEVAC mission using a C-130 to transport a patient requires at least three crewmembers and $1,600 in fuel, whereas the Alia completed the simulated mission with just two crewmembers and an energy cost of about $5.</p>
<p>The USAF also tested the Alia prototype in a simulated maintenance recovery team mission. The Alia was sent to collect parts for an F-35 that had landed at Duke Field. It flew from Eglin to the nearby Tyndall Air Force Base to pick up the simulated equipment and brought it back to Duke Field. The trip took about one hour of flight time and cost about $25 in electricity, whereas the same trip in a Ford F-250 would take four hours of driving and $45 worth of fuel, according to Beta.&nbsp;</p>
<p>With its USAF deployment under its belt, Beta’s Alia aircraft will ultimately make its way back to the company’s headquarters in Burlington, Vermont, but it’s not heading straight home. Flight-tracking data shows the aircraft has made numerous short flights around Savannah, Georgia, since it left Florida on January 22. Beta’s spokesperson declined to comment on the Alia’s recent flight activity but said the company intends to share more details about it at a later date.</p>


Beta’s Electric Air Taxi Demonstrates Military Use Cases

<p>Business aviation services group Atlantic Aviation has started installing electric charging stations at its FBOs through a partnership with aircraft manufacturer Beta Technologies. The first charger has been installed at Atlantic’s facility at Elmira Regional Airport in upstate New York, and the partners announced on Tuesday they will also install the equipment at Alabama’s Birmingham International Airport, Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport in Mississippi, and Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport in Massachusetts.</p>
<p>Beta, which is developing both eVTOL and fixed-wing versions of its Alia airplane, has designed its “technology agnostic” charging stations to work with multiple aircraft types, as well as electric ground vehicles. The Vermont-based company has now installed chargers at 17 locations across the U.S. and has another 55 sites in the permitting or construction process.</p>
<p>The existing Beta network of 320 kilowatt "charge cube" units extends south from Vermont to Arkansas and Florida. Installations include one at Eglin Air Force Base, where one of the Alia prototype aircraft has been deployed for several months as part of U.S. Air Force trials. Beta has conducted multiple <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-12-19/beta-makes-second-cross-country-evtol-flight-charging-infrastructure">extended flights </a>across the U.S. to evaluate the practicalities of charging the Alia aircraft’s batteries between trips.</p>
<h3 class="subheading"><strong>Charging Units Could Be Installed at FBOs Nationwide</strong></h3>
<p>Atlantic’s FBO network covers more than 100 locations across North America. Its “host site agreements” with Beta are intended to provide the infrastructure needed to support anticipated advanced air mobility services with electric aircraft to reduce operating costs of short flights and cut carbon emissions. The charging units have a 50-foot corded reel to give ground support crews greater flexibility when connecting the equipment to aircraft and other vehicles.</p>
<p>“As a premier FBO company, Atlantic Aviation has a strong pulse on the needs of the market and a long history of innovating to meet demand,” said Nate Ward, Beta’s head of charge network development. “Over the past several years, Beta has been focused on deploying a reliable, well-distributed network of fast chargers to enable the entire advanced air mobility industry, and we are aligned with the team at Atlantic on our mission.”</p>
<p>The announcement by Atlantic Aviation and Beta was made a day after rival eVTOL aircraft developer Joby said it is installing its interoperable charging equipment at <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2024-01-08/clay-lacys-john-wayne-fbo-get-jobys-electric-charging-unit">Clay Lacy Aviation’s FBO</a> at John Wayne Airport in Southern California. This is the first of a planned network of chargers to support anticipated eVTOL air taxi services across the Los Angeles metropolitan area.</p>
<p>Archer Aviation, which is also developing eVTOL aircraft for services including air taxi flights, is also using Beta's charging technology. Last year, it installed a pair of the "charge cube" units at its <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-11-07/archer-aviation-brings-betas-charging-network-west-coast">Salinas test facility</a> in California.&nbsp;</p>


Managing Editor

Charles Alcock

Business Aviation Group Installs Beta's Electric Aircraft Charging Stations

<p><span><span><span>Air New Zealand is to introduce up to 23 of Beta Technologies’ Alia electric aircraft to its fleet, based on a deal announced on Tuesday with the manufacturer of the conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) model. The agreement covers one firm order, plus options for two more and rights covering an additional&nbsp;20 aircraft.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>The airline intends to use the Alia for cargo service for the New Zealand postal service and&nbsp;plans to announce in early 2024 which two airports will be served in the first phase of operations in 2026. The move is part of Air New Zealand’s wider Mission Next Gen Aircraft decarbonization program, under which it is evaluating other aircraft types, with the Beta vehicle marking the carrier’s first firm purchase commitment.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>Beta is also developing an eVTOL version of the five-passenger aircraft, which&nbsp;is expected to complete FAA type certification in 2026. The CTOL model is due to be certified&nbsp;in 2025. </span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>Both aircraft will be manufactured at the company’s newly opened<a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-10-02/beta-opens-net-zero-carbon-electric-aircraft-factory-vermont">&nbsp;factory </a>in Burlington, Vermont. The FAA refers to the CTOL version of the Alia as the CX300 and the VTOL model as the A250.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>According to Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran, initial operations with the Alia aircraft will pave the way to adding larger electric aircraft to its fleet in 2030. The airline spent 18 months evaluating the new model.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>“Decarbonizing aviation isn’t easy and we have a lot of work to do,” Foran commented. “We need to accelerate the pace of change in the technology, infrastructure, operations, and regulation. While this aircraft will add to, not replace, our existing fleet, it is a catalyst for that change.”</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>For Air New Zealand, the Alia is likely to fly sectors of around 150 kilometers (94 miles), and so will likely operate at relatively low altitudes of up to 9,800 feet and speeds of up to 270 km/h. In testing conducted to date, the aircraft has flown more than 480 kilometers in various flights. </span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>Earlier this year, the airline said that it is evaluating around nine manufacturers of electric and hybrid-electric aircraft, as part of plans to eventually replace its fleet of Dash 8 turboprop aircraft. These manufacturers include Embraer, Heart Aerospace, VoltAero, Cranfield Aerospace, and Eviation.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>Beta expects it to take between 40 and 60 minutes to fully recharge the Alia’s batteries. The manufacturer has developed so-called charging cubes that it says can be easily deployed to airports to support network operations.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>On December 1, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced funding to support an expansion of Beta’s flight test and delivery center at Plattsburgh International Airport. Under the state’s economic development and community assistance program, $20 million will be issued in a grant via the Clinton County government as a contribution to the $41 million cost of the project, which is expected to create&nbsp;85 full-time jobs. </span></span></span></p>
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Air New Zealand Will Operate Beta's Alia Electric Aircraft from 2026

<p>Archer Aviation is accelerating the adoption of electric aircraft charging infrastructure developed by rival&nbsp;eVTOL manufacturer Beta Technologies with the purchase of several of Beta's multimodal chargers.&nbsp;Beta says it has delivered two chargers to Archer’s flight test facility&nbsp;in Salinas, California, where Archer is conducting a <a href="https://futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-10-25/archers-midnight-evtol-prototype-aircraft-makes-first-flight">flight test campaign</a> with its four-passenger Midnight eVTOL air taxi. Both Archer and Beta are developing electric air taxis that are expected to be certified and in service by 2025.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In addition to its <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-03-13/beta-technologies-plans-certify-electric-ctol-airplane">CX-300</a> electric fixed-wing airplane and its Alia-250 eVTOL aircraft, Beta has been developing a network of <a href="https://futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-03-27/beta-installs-first-electric-aircraft-recharging-station-southeast-us">charging stations</a> in the eastern U.S. with its proprietary charge cubes. The Vermont-based company already has chargers online at 14 locations and is working to install more at another 55 other locations along the East and Gulf Coasts. Through its partnership with Archer, Beta’s charging network is now expanding to the West Coast.&nbsp;</p>
<p>A Beta spokesperson told <strong>AIN</strong> that Archer has received the first two deliveries of “a number of Beta's mini cube mobile charging systems,”&nbsp;which the California-based eVTOL developer intends to “rapidly deploy as needed.” In addition to the portable mini cubes, Beta intends to install two permanent charging cubes at Archer's facility in Salinas. Archer and Beta have not disclosed exactly where the additional mini cubes might be deployed. Archer plans to launch its first eVTOL air taxi routes in <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-11-09/archer-and-united-airlines-announce-evtol-air-taxi-route-between-manhattan">New York City</a> and <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-03-23/archer-and-united-airlines-reveal-first-air-taxi-route-chicago">Chicago</a>, connecting major airports&nbsp;to city centers.</p>
<p>“Fast charging is critical to ensure rapid turnaround times between flights,” said Archer co-founder and CEO Adam Goldstein. “A widespread, fast charging system is critical to ensuring electric air taxis reach scale in the coming years and this collaboration between two industry leaders is an exciting step towards achieving that.”</p>
<p>Beta’s standard charge cubes are Level 3 DC fast chargers that produce 350 kilowatts of power, which is enough to charge an eVTOL aircraft such as the Alia or Midnight in under an hour. Each unit stands about four feet tall and features a 50-foot charging cable for easy access. The mini cube, which sits on caster wheels, is a smaller and easily portable Level 3 DC fast charger, but it produces only about 40 kilowatts of power output, Beta’s spokesperson told <strong>AIN</strong>.&nbsp;</p>
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            <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item">  <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/futureflight/import/beta-mini-cube.jpg" width="2200" height="1088" alt="Beta's &quot;mini cube&quot; mobile charging station is pictured next to a Beta Alia prototype" title="Beta's mini cube is a 40-kilowatt portable fast charger. (Photo: Beta Technologies)">

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            <div class="field field--name-field-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Beta's mini cube is a 40-kilowatt portable fast charger. (Photo: Beta Technologies)</div>
      
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<figcaption>Beta's mini cube is a 40-kilowatt portable fast charger. (Photo: Beta Technologies)</figcaption>
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<p>Both versions of Beta’s chargers are multimodal and interoperable, which means they can charge electric ground vehicles as well as aircraft. The charging systems utilize combined charging standard (CCS) plugs, which are the most commonly used among electric aircraft and ground vehicle manufacturers—with one notable exception being Joby Aviation, a California-based eVTOL developer that has opted to create its own universal charging interface. Joby has not yet revealed the specifications for its proprietary chargers, but the company claims they will be capable of supporting a wider variety&nbsp;of electric vehicles, including larger electric airplanes that could hit the market in the next decade.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Beta says it designed the chargers to the standards outlined in the General Aviation Manufacturers Association’s (GAMA) recent <a href="https://prismic-io.s3.amazonaws.com/archerv2/fb524537-1541-4d7e-b4b5-0f812862e1a4_Interoperability_of_Electric_Charging_Infrastructure_v1_0.pdf">white paper</a>, “Interoperability of Electric Charging Infrastructure,” which most electric aircraft developers have agreed to follow. The same standard has also been endorsed by the <a href="https://eshop.eurocae.net/eurocae-documents-and-reports/ed-308/#">European Organisation for Civil Aviation Equipment</a> (EUROCAE). “When we designed our chargers, we saw an opportunity to support the entire sector by using an already peer-reviewed standard, and we’re thrilled to collaborate with Archer now to validate that aim,” said Beta founder and CEO Kyle Clark.</p>
<p>“The adoption of a unified charging standard will help promote electric aviation’s development at scale,”&nbsp;said GAMA president and CEO Pete Bunce. “Enabling electric aircraft and electric ground vehicles from different manufacturers to share charging infrastructure will help reduce the costs of electrifying existing infrastructure. A common standard will boost confidence in the emerging advanced air mobility sector of our industry and encourage adoption of, and access to, publicly accessible charging networks.”</p>


Read the latest news about Archer Aviation. 

Archer Aviation Brings Beta's Charging Network to the West Coast

<p>Helijet has placed orders for Beta Technologies’ Alia 1-pilot, 5-passenger eVTOLs and that it would operate the aircraft under IFR flight rules. Beta indicated that the Alia would be certified by 2026 and Helijet would begin operations shortly thereafter.</p>
<p>The parties made the announcement on Tuesday afternoon at Helijet’s Victoria Harbour Heliport, later confirming that the deal covers four firm orders and options for four more aircraft. They were&nbsp;joined by a representative from the Canadian Advanced Air Mobility (CAAM) consortium and British Columbia Premier David Eby. During the announcement, Eby reiterated his province’s commitment to its long-standing carbon fuel tax and said that there would be continued provincial and federal support for companies investing in carbon-reducing technologies and related infrastructure.</p>
<p>British Columbia implemented North America’s first carbon tax in 2008 and raised it from $50 to $65 per tonne of carbon dioxide emissions earlier this year in line with the minimum federal carbon tax rate. That rate will steadily increase in the coming years. It translated into an additional tax of 49 cents (Canadian) per gallon on Jet-A fuel in 2022 and will rise to $1.08 by 2026. The province also provides grants for businesses switching to the use of greener energy under its CleanBC industry Fund which already has paid C$310 million to participating businesses and will pay another C$282 million between 2022 and 2025.</p>
<p>Helijet CEO Danny Sitnam said the Alia aircraft would create the opportunity to broaden the company’s passenger service network in the Vancouver area by linking its legacy helicopter service to vertiports and vertipads served by the eVTOL network in outlying areas akin to an airline “hub and spoke” network. Helijet currently operates a fleet of Sikorsky S-76 helicopters for both scheduled passenger and charter service. It sees the Alia eVTOL vehicle as a way to expand not only passenger services but also emergency response, air ambulance and organ transfer flights.</p>
<p>"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," Eby commented. "We congratulate Helijet on their exciting news and look forward to British Columbia becoming a leader in the advanced air mobility sector.</p>
<p>The Alia has a range of 250 nm and a top speed of 100 knots. Sitnam also said that the aircraft held the promise of reducing the cost of human organ transport and high-value medical supplies in the region including locally-produced radioactive isotopes.</p>
<h3 class="subheading"><strong>Vancouver to Get First Vertiport</strong></h3>
<p>Helijet is also leading the development of Canada’s first commercial vertiport at its downtown <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-brief/2020-11-02/vancouvers-pioneers-make-case-inclusive-advanced-air-mobility">Vancouver </a>waterfront heliport, which would connect AAM users to an intermodal transportation hub providing road, marine, air, and rail access throughout the region. The company acknowledged that it has shortlisted three other eVTOL aircraft as possible additions to its fleet and it has not ruled out placing orders with other manufacturers.</p>
<p>The operator joined the <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2020-12-16/caam-steps-advanced-air-mobility-projects-canada">CAAM</a>, which now has more than 100 member organizations,&nbsp;&nbsp;in 2019. Other stakeholders in this group include the National Research Council of Canada, Air Canada Cargo, CAE, Iskwew Airlines, InDro Robotics, the University of British Columbia, TransLink, British Columbia Aviation Council, the University of Victoria, the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation, Telus, Transport Canada, the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association, and the Aerial Evolution Association of Canada.</p>
<p>Founded in 2017, Beta has orders from customers including <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-03-17/ups-will-test-betas-electric-aircraft-uae-cargo-missions">UPS</a>, Air New Zealand, Blade, and United Therapeutics, as well as contracts with the U.S. Army and Air Force. It is developing both eVTOL and electric conventional takeoff and landing versions of its aircraft.</p>
<p>Beta is exploring options for establishing an industrial base in Canada. It has already established a research and development facility at Montréal's Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport in Quebec, which is close to its <a href="&quot;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,&quot; Eby commented. &quot;We congratulate Helijet on their exciting news and look forward to British Columbia becoming a leader in the advanced air mobility sector.">headquarters in Vermont</a>. The company recently conducted what is believed to be the first <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-09-28/beta-technologies-flies-electric-aircraft-across-border-canada">cross-border eVTOL flight</a> when it flew a prototype from the U.S. to Montreal.</p>


Contributor

Mark Huber

Helijet to Add Beta's eVTOL Aircraft to Pacific Northwest Fleet

<p>Beta Technologies’ Alia prototype has completed a 2,000-mile journey from Vermont to Eglin Air Force Base in the Florida Panhandle, where the U.S. Air Force’s 413th Squadron will use the electric fixed-wing airplane for hands-on experimentation and training. The delivery comes shortly after Beta’s installation of an <a href="https://futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-09-14/betas-electric-aircraft-and-charging-station-coming-eglin-air-force-base">electric aircraft charging station</a> at the base.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The Alia aircraft landed at Duke Field on Eglin Air Force Base at 12:18 p.m. local time on Thursday, October 26, beginning a contracted deployment that is expected to last several months. During that time, Beta’s core flight test team will work with the USAF to experiment with possible use cases for the six-seat electric air taxi in defense operations, such as cargo resupply missions and personnel transport. Beta will also train USAF pilots and technicians on how to operate and maintain the aircraft.&nbsp;</p>
<p>During its 16-day journey down to Eglin, Beta’s Alia aircraft flew over 12 U.S. states, making about 20 stops along the way to recharge its batteries using several of its own multimodal charging stations. In addition to developing its electric aircraft, Beta is building a <a href="https://futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-09-13/new-beta-app-gives-access-growing-network-electric-vehicle-charging">network of charging stations</a> across the country. The company has chargers online at 13 locations across the eastern U.S., and work is underway to install them at another 55 locations along the East and Gulf Coasts.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The electric fixed-wing airplane, which Beta is developing alongside its Alia-250 eVTOL aircraft, is an experimental model that was permitted to fly cross-country under an FAA market survey certificate. Beta originally built the Alia prototype as a precursor to its eVTOL model before it&nbsp;<a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-03-13/beta-technologies-plans-certify-electric-ctol-airplane">decided to certify both</a> the conventional and eVTOL versions of its aircraft. The Alia prototype has made several cross-country flights over the past couple of years, including a recent <a href="https://futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-09-28/beta-technologies-flies-electric-aircraft-across-border-canada">trip to Canada</a>. Several Beta pilots—including the company’s founder and CEO, Kyle Clark—took turns piloting the prototype on the way down to Eglin.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The trek to Florida began on October 10, when the Alia prototype departed from Burlington International Airport (KBTV) in Vermont, where the company has its headquarters, and flew to Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport (KGFL) in Glens Falls, New York. Later that day, it flew to Rome, New York. Over the next couple of weeks, the aircraft made stops in Syracuse, New York; Pittsfield and Marshfield, Massachusetts; Bridgeport, Connecticut; White Plains, New York; Reading, Pennsylvania; Easton and Joint Base Andrews in Maryland; Stafford, Charlottesville, and Danville, Virginia; Raleigh, North Carolina; Camden, South Carolina; Augusta, and Macon, Georgia; and Dothan, Alabama.&nbsp;</p>
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            <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item">  <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/futureflight/import/BETA%20ALIA%20flies%20over%20DC.jpg" width="2200" height="1467" alt="The Alia prototype flies over Washington, D.C." title="The Alia prototype flew over Washington, D.C. on its way to Joint Base Andrews, on Oct. 18, 2023. (Photo: Beta Technologies)">

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            <div class="field field--name-field-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">The Alia prototype flew over Washington, D.C. on its way to Joint Base Andrews, on Oct. 18, 2023. (Photo: Beta Technologies)</div>
      
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<figcaption>The Alia prototype flew over Washington, D.C. on its way to Joint Base Andrews, on Oct. 18, 2023. (Photo: Beta Technologies)</figcaption>
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<p>Beta notched several milestones during the trip. The Alia prototype became the first all-electric aircraft to fly in Class B airspace around Boston and New York City, and it was the first to fly in the restricted flight zone over Washington, D.C., when it visited Joint Base Andrews. The company also commissioned the first electric aircraft charger in Massachusetts during its stop in Marshfield, and it broke ground on North Carolina’s first electric aircraft charger at Raleigh Executive Jetport.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Beta has been working with the USAF since 2020 through its Afwerx Agility Prime program, which aims to foster public-private collaboration on electric aviation technologies for both the commercial and defense markets. Through that program, Beta became the first eVTOL developer to receive <a href="https://futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-05-04/us-air-force-awards-airworthiness-approval-betas-alia-evtol-prototype">military airworthiness approval</a>, and Air Force pilots have already flown Beta's aircraft.</p>
<p>“For the past several years, Afwerx has provided critical input and support to the Beta programs,” Clark said in a statement. “Deploying Alia for experimentation and training at Duke Field is the natural next step in our partnership. We look forward to working hand-in-hand with the U.S. Air Force over the next few months as we...assess how the economic, sustainability, and energy independence benefits of electric aviation can serve our military.</p>
<p>“In addition to the milestone of delivering an asset to our partners, this mission has been an invaluable opportunity to fly our electric aircraft down the East Coast into the communities this technology, and our operators, will ultimately serve,” Clark added.</p>
<p>Beta intends to offer its zero-emissions aircraft for both commercial air taxi and cargo logistics applications. The company plans to have its Alia 250 eVTOL model and the conventional takeoff and landing CX300 version certified and in service by 2026 and 2025, respectively. It has provisional sales commitments from multiple prospective operators, including helicopter group Bristow and express freight distributor <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-03-17/ups-will-test-betas-electric-aircraft-uae-cargo-missions">UPS</a>.</p>
<p>While the company has said it expects the eVTOL aircraft to have a range of about 250 miles on a single charge, the fixed-wing prototype has already flown as far as 386 miles (336 nm), which according to Beta is the longest flight by any electric aircraft to date.</p>


Beta’s Electric Airplane Lands at Air Force Base in Florida

<p><span><span><span>Beta Technologies has opened a manufacturing facility in Burlington, Vermont, where it will build its electric aircraft. The company expects to have the capacity to assemble 300 aircraft each year in a 188,500-sq-ft facility that it says has been designed to operate with net zero carbon emissions.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>The factory, which was officially inaugurated today in the presence of local elected officials, is part of a 40-acre site at Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport, with space already allocated to expand production capacity at a later date. Beta is developing both the Alia 250 eVTOL model and the conventional takeoff and landing CX300 version, with target dates for type certification of 2026 and 2025 respectively. It has provisional sales commitments from multiple prospective operators, including <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-08-23/bristow-pilot-test-flies-betas-alia-electric-airplane">helicopter group Bristow</a> and express <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-03-17/ups-will-test-betas-electric-aircraft-uae-cargo-missions">freight distributor UPS</a>.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>The Beta team has been progressively preparing for manufacturing readiness by establishing a pilot production line for the systems it is producing in-house, including battery packs, electric motors, and inverters. It has been working with FAA officials to certify&nbsp;its quality management systems and manufacturing processes.</span></span></span></p>
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            <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item">  <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/futureflight/import/Screenshot%202023-10-02%20at%2015.36.32.png" width="1316" height="736" alt="Senator Bernie Sanders at the Beta Technologies factory in Vermont." title="U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders was one of several elected officials participating in the opening ceremony for he Beta Technologies electric aircraft factory in Vermont.">

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            <div class="field field--name-field-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders was one of several elected officials participating in the opening ceremony for he Beta Technologies electric aircraft factory in Vermont.</div>
      
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<figcaption>U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (D-Vermont) was one of several elected officials participating in the opening ceremony for the Beta Technologies electric aircraft factory in Burlington.</figcaption>
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<p><span><span><span>To date, Beta has conducted more than 500 piloted flights with full-scale prototypes, logging more than 10,000 flight hours with its own batteries and motors. Last week, it flew a <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-03-13/beta-technologies-plans-certify-electric-ctol-airplane">CX300 aircraft </a>from Vermont across the <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-09-28/beta-technologies-flies-electric-aircraft-across-border-canada">Canadian border to Montreal</a>, and it has previously conducted extensive multi-leg trips across the U.S. to evaluate both the aircraft’s performance and its planned network of electric charging stations.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>As part of the commitment to net zero objectives, the new production facility is equipped with 260 geothermal wells to provide energy for temperature control within the building, as well as nearly three acres of roof-mounted solar panels. A structural sub-base that supports concrete foundations is made from a glass aggregate consisting of 99 percent recycled glass and 1 percent binder, replacing nearly 100,000 cu ft of styrofoam insulation.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>At various stages of the assembly process, aircraft will move along a production line with floor-to-ceiling windows and a quarter-acre skylight providing natural light to complement adjustable electric lights at all times of the day. For Beta employees, there are common areas with large windows throughout the building.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>Beta Technologies is working with a diverse group of industry partners to build its new aircraft. These include leading aviation suppliers such as avionics manufacturer Garmin and composite materials specialist Solvay. Advanced Integration Technology is Beta’s industrialization partner, while Sensata Technologies is contributing sensors and high-voltage electrical protection, and Volz Servos is providing actuators.</span></span></span></p>
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            <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item">  <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/futureflight/import/ALIA%20VTOL%20Hover.JPG" width="4488" height="2992" alt="Beta Technologies electric aircraft" title="Beta Technologies is developing both vertical and conventional takeoff and landing and conventional takeoff versions of its electric aircraft. (Image: Beta)">

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            <div class="field field--name-field-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Beta Technologies is developing both vertical and conventional takeoff and landing and conventional takeoff versions of its electric aircraft. (Image: Beta)</div>
      
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<figcaption>Beta Technologies is developing both vertical and conventional takeoff and landing and conventional takeoff versions of its electric aircraft. (Image: Beta)</figcaption>
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<p><span><span><span>By contrast with other leading eVTOL aircraft developers based in California, Beta is concentrating most of its activities in its home state of Vermont, with a maintenance and training hangar in South Burlington, pilot manufacturing facilities in Williston, and an advanced battery research center in St Albans. The company also has locations in nearby Plattsburgh, New York;&nbsp;Washington, D.C.;&nbsp;Montreal; Raleigh, North Carolina;&nbsp;and Springfield, Ohio. </span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>During an opening ceremony on October 2, Beta founder and CEO Kyle Clark praised local state and city officials for their commitment to decarbonization. He pointed out that when Beta’s electric aircraft recharge in Burlington they are able to do so using the 100 percent net zero carbon local power grid. The event also heard speeches by Vermont politicians, including U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, former Senator Patrick Leahy, and Governor Phil Scott.</span></span></span></p>


Beta Opens Net Zero Carbon Electric Aircraft Factory in Vermont

<p>Vermont-based electric aircraft developer Beta Technologies flew its Alia prototype into Montréal on Wednesday. According to Beta, this was the first time an all-electric aircraft crossed an international border and the first time one landed in Montréal.&nbsp;</p>
<p>With Beta test pilot Chris Caputo at the helm and accompanied by Beta flight test engineer Emma Davis, the Alia prototype took off from the company’s flight testing center at Plattsburgh International Airport (PBG) in New York at 1:54 p.m. EDT. About 30 minutes and 64 miles (55 nm) later, it touched down at Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL), where the company recently opened a&nbsp;<a href="https://futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-03-06/beta-technologies-opens-rd-facility-montreal">research and development facility</a>. According to Beta, the Class B airport is in busy airspace and serves about 53,000 passengers per day.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p>“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,” said Beta founder and CEO Kyle Clark. “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. This flight represents another meaningful step toward creating a sustainable aviation future globally.”</p>
<p>Several leaders from the aerospace and transportation industries joined Beta at the Montréal airport to commemorate the Alia’s flight, including ICAO secretary general Juan Carlos Salazar, AeroMontréal president Melanie Lussier, Montréal Airports president and CEO Yves Beauchamp, and Quebec’s delegate for New England, Marie-Claude Francoeur.</p>
<p>“In its aerospace strategy, Quebec emphasizes revolutionary technologies that will meet the environmental requirements for the next generation of aircraft. Beta's project is fully in line with this strategy and, on a larger scale, with the objectives and priorities of our region's premiers and governors,” said Francoeur. “This collaboration between Quebec and Vermont is a perfect example of the technological breakthrough that will help us achieve our regional goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.”</p>
<p>Beta, which is headquartered in South Burlington, Vermont, is developing two versions of its six-seat electric air taxi: one with vertical lift capabilities and one that takes off and lands like a conventional airplane, or CTOL. The aircraft that flew to Montréal on Wednesday is in the CTOL configuration. That same aircraft has so far accrued more than 26,000 miles (42,000 kilometers) in flight testing over the past three years, including on some <a href="https://futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-12-19/beta-makes-second-cross-country-evtol-flight-charging-infrastructure">cross-country flights</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Beta originally developed the CTOL airplane as a technology demonstrator for its eVTOL aircraft, but the company recently decided it <a href="https://futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-03-13/beta-technologies-plans-certify-electric-ctol-airplane">would certify both versions</a> of the vehicle, not just the eVTOL. According to Beta, the two aircraft share 80 percent of their design elements, with the primary difference being the vertical lift propellers. The CTOL aircraft is expected to be certified and ready for commercial service in 2025, with certification and service entry of the eVTOL version following shortly thereafter.&nbsp;</p>


Beta Technologies Flies Electric Aircraft Across the Border to Canada

<p>Beta Technologies, a Vermont-based company developing electric aircraft along with <a href="https://futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-03-27/beta-installs-first-electric-aircraft-recharging-station-southeast-us">a network of charging stations</a>, is expanding its partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense to install an aircraft charger at Eglin Air Force Base in western Florida. Later this year, Beta will send its Alia aircraft to Eglin, where the Air Force will use it for “on-base experimentation” as part of its ongoing efforts to explore defense applications for electric aircraft such as Beta’s Alia.&nbsp;</p>
<p>According to Beta, the Level 3 DC fast charger it’s bringing to Eglin will be the first-ever aircraft charging station to be installed on a U.S. Air Force Base. Beta already has its aircraft chargers online at 13 locations across the eastern U.S., and development work is underway to install them at another 55 locations along the East and Gulf Coasts.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The charging station will be able to support Beta’s aircraft as well as other electric aircraft and ground vehicles. Beta says it designed the chargers to the standards outlined in the General Aviation Manufacturers Association’s (GAMA) recent white paper, “Interoperability of Electric Charging Infrastructure,” which most electric aircraft developers have agreed to follow.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Beta has been working with the U.S. Air Force since 2020 through its Afwerx Agility Prime program, which aims to foster public-private collaboration on the acceleration of electric aviation technologies for both the commercial and defense markets. Through that program, Beta became the first eVTOL developer to receive <a href="https://futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-05-04/us-air-force-awards-airworthiness-approval-betas-alia-evtol-prototype">military airworthiness approval</a>, and Air Force pilots have already had the chance to pilot Beta’s aircraft.&nbsp;</p>
<p>“The DoD, and specifically AFWERX’s Agility Prime team, have been invaluable partners to us for the past several years, offering deep insights that have helped us continue to progress our technology,” said Beta founder and CEO Kyle Clark. “The installation of this charger is an enabling step as the DOD looks to transition to a more sustainable fleet. We look forward to using it to charge our aircraft later this year during planned on-base experimentation with the Air Force at Duke Airfield.”</p>
<p>“Charging station installation is a critical step to unleash test and experimentation with the DoD to leverage emerging electric aviation technology as a capability for the warfighter,” said Maj Anthony Zartman, Agility Prime’s program manager and team lead. “Two charging test sites will be set up by the end of the calendar year, marking the first multimodal charging capabilities for the Air Force. Further, the charging stations will provide an opportunity to explore the utility of electric vehicle fleet modernization as well as base and flight line support equipment to improve energy use and reduce emissions.”</p>
<p>While Beta prepares to send its charger and aircraft to Eglin, rival eVTOL companies Joby and Archer are also planning to send their electric air taxis to Air Force bases. Joby has said it would deliver its first production-conforming aircraft <a href="https://futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-04-27/joby-wins-55-million-agility-prime-contract-extension-us-air-force">to Edwards Air Force Base</a> in Southern California by early 2024. Meanwhile, Archer has said it aims to <a href="https://futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-07-31/us-air-force-set-evaluate-archers-midnight-evtol-aircraft">deliver its Midnight eVTOL aircraft</a> to an unspecified Air Force base in the fourth quarter&nbsp;of 2023.</p>
<p>The Alia aircraft that Beta intends to deliver to Eglin will be its conventional airplane configuration, also known as a CTOL (conventional takeoff and landing) aircraft. While the company originally set out to develop an eVTOL aircraft, it recently decided <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-03-13/beta-technologies-plans-certify-electric-ctol-airplane">to certify a CTOL version</a> of the aircraft as well. Beta aims to have the six-seat aircraft certified and ready for commercial service in 2025.&nbsp;</p>


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Beta’s Electric Airplane Lands at Air Force Base in Florida

Beta Opens Net Zero Carbon Electric Aircraft Factory in Vermont

Beta Technologies Flies Electric Aircraft Across the Border to Canada

Beta’s Electric Aircraft and Charging Station Coming to Eglin Air Force Base

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