Hanneke Weitering is a writer and editor with AIN covering advanced air mobility and new flight technologies. She became an aviation journalist and joined the AIN team in the summer of 2022 after reporting on spaceflight and astronomy for six years at Space.com. After earning a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, she moved to New York City to pursue a master’s degree in science, health, and environmental reporting at New York University&#039;s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. She is now based in Seattle near Boeing Field and spends her free time exploring nature in the Pacific Northwest.

Science & Technology Editor

Hanneke Weitering

Read the latest news about Beta Technologies.

Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio, has purchased an Alia CX300 electric airplane and flight simulator from Beta Technologies to begin training student pilots and technicians on electric aircraft.
As the first academic institution to purchase Beta’s products, Sinclair College’s National UAS Training and Certification Center will integrate the new aircraft and simulator into its education and training programs with a focus on providing hands-on experience.
In partnership with Beta, the public college intends to establish a framework for students and professional clients to earn credentials in electric aircraft systems, operations, and maintenance by participating in familiarization training. It will also offer students the opportunity to research and develop autonomous flight technologies for uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS).
Sinclair is spending about $2.5 million on the full package, including $2 million in federal funding it secured from the National Institute of Standards and Technology. On April 21, Ohio’s budget office approved Sinclair’s request for $500,000 in state funds to spend on Beta’s “Mobile Dome 2.0” flight simulator, for which the college agreed to contribute its own $45,000.
Ohio’s state budget office also approved Sinclair’s request to waive competitive bidding rules when selecting the electric aircraft manufacturer for this purchase. State <a href="https://controllingboard.obm.ohio.gov/Print/PrintCBRequest?id=0aa7db24-198e-4b3d-80b2-135934a45675">records</a> show that Sinclair had considered numerous other eVTOL manufacturers for the partnership—including Joby Aviation, which is building its <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/news-article/2023-09-15/jobys-first-evtol-air-taxi-factory-coming-dayton-ohio">eVTOL factory in Dayton</a>—but none of the potential alternatives met the college’s criteria.
“The recent purchase of a Beta flight simulator and Beta aircraft by Sinclair Community College is another great step toward advancing Dayton’s role as the future of flight,” said Representative Mike Turner (R-Ohio), who played a pivotal role in securing state funds for the project. “These systems will enable more students to gain critical training and education in advanced air mobility programs, which is essential for integration into the National Airspace System.”
Vermont-based Beta delivered the mobile flight simulator to Sinclair in April, and it plans to deliver the Alia CX300 aircraft in early 2026. The Alia CX300 is a conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) version of the company’s Alia 250 eVTOL aircraft. Both are designed to seat six occupants, including a pilot, or carry up to 1,240 pounds of cargo. Neither are certified for commercial operations in the U.S., but Beta expects to certify the CX300 this year, followed by the eVTOL model as early as 2026.
The aircraft and simulator will both be housed at Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport (KSGH). That airport is also home to the U.S. National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence (NAAMCE), a research facility that opened in 2023. NAAMCE was one of the first facilities to obtain an electric aircraft charger from Beta, which is <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2025-01-07/betas-aircraft-charging-network-doubled-2024">building a nationwide charging network</a>. The facility is slated to host <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2025-02-24/air-mobility-center-excellence-host-pulitzer-electric">the first annual Pulitzer Electric Aircraft Race</a> in October.
“The growth of this market is essential not only for improving urban and rural transportation, cargo logistics, and emergency services, but also for driving economic progress by enabling new infrastructure, generating jobs, and fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors,” said Jeffrey A. Miller, senior vice president of workforce development and consulting at Sinclair College. “We are thrilled to establish this novel partnership to advance the interests of industry, government, and academia.”

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