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.

Hartzell Propeller has become the first company to achieve FAA certification for a propeller designed specifically for advanced air mobility (AAM), the company announced July 21. The Ohio-based manufacturer developed the propeller in collaboration with Beta Technologies and tested it exclusively on the latter’s electric aircraft to obtain FAA Part 35 type certification.&nbsp;
According to Beta, the propeller has undergone thousands of hours of ground and flight testing on the Alia CX300 electric airplane over the past four years. Beta is also using the propeller for its Alia 250 eVTOL model. Although designed for Beta’s aircraft, Hartzell intends to make the propeller available to other manufacturers of AAM aircraft with similar electric propulsion systems.
“Hartzell Propeller is very pleased to work with Beta Technologies on this AAM breakthrough development,” said Hartzell president JJ Frigge. “Our design specifically for Beta Technologies is a five-bladed, carbon fiber, ground-adjustable fixed pitch propeller that will have future applications for the entire AAM industry.”
Both the Alia CX300 and Alia 250 have a single Hartzell propeller mounted on the aft end for forward propulsion, and these are powered by Beta’s own H500A electric engines. The eVTOL model has four additional two-bladed, top-mounted vertical lift propellers, each powered by a Beta V600A electric motor.&nbsp;
Just about every major aircraft manufacturer sources propellers from Hartzell, which has been in business for more than 100 years. It began dipping its toes in the AAM sector around 2018, when it partnered with Eviation to develop <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2018-11-05/eviation-selects-hartzell-props-all-electric-alice">propellers for the Alice</a> electric commuter airplane.&nbsp;
“With its decades of experience across all types of aircraft, Hartzell Propeller has understood from the beginning the unique challenges and opportunities of electric aviation,” said Beta founder and CEO Kyle Clark. “Their engineering precision and deep certification experience have assisted us as we bring this aircraft to market and walk through our own certification steps. We’re proud to have been their counterpart on this project, and look forward to getting this certified propeller in the air as we continue the process of certifying our electric engines, as well as our Alia CTOL [conventional takeoff and landing] and VTOL.”
Beta aims to certify the Alia CX300 this year, followed by the Alia 250 eVTOL in 2026. The company is currently conducting for-credit certification testing with the FAA. It has been conducting extensive, real-world flights with the Alia CX300 under a market survey provision permitted by the special airworthiness certificate rules. Earlier this year, the Alia CX300 embarked on a European tour, conducting <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2025-05-23/betas-alia-cx300-electric-aircraft-starts-european-tour">demonstration flights in Ireland</a> and at the Paris Air Show.

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

FAA Certifies Hartzell’s First Electric Aircraft Engine Propeller

Hartzell designed the propeller for Beta Technologies’ electric aircraft

Hartzell Propellers collaborated with Beta Technologies to develop and test the first FAA-certified propeller for electric aircraft.

FAA Certifies Hartzell’s First Electric Engine Propeller

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Start-up says it now holds 45 patents around its plans for hydrogen-electric powertrains

ZeroAvia Builds Patent Portfolio for Hydrogen-electric Airliners 

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Zeusch Aviation flies medical, surveillance, mapping, and broadcast missions

King Air Operator Plans Hybrid-electric Conversion with Dovetail

French company is now offering Sterna propulsion system to other aircraft developers

Ascendance Steps Up Assembly of Atea Hybrid-electric VTOL Prototype

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Electra Aero has now won seven Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts from the Army

U.S. Army Tasks Electra with Assessing Hybrid-electric Propulsion 

Curt Epstein

News and developments about aviation fuel, including jet fuel, aviation gasoline, and biofuel.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Nitrile seals can leak when exposed to 100% SAF

Company Says New Seals, Gaskets Are Impervious to SAF

Sarah Rose

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

In this article

Beta Technologies

Hartzell Propeller

More In Engines

ZeroAvia Builds Patent Portfolio for Hydrogen-electric Airliners

Start-up says it now holds 45 patents around its plans for hydrogen-electric powertrains

King Air Operator Plans Hybrid-electric Conversion with Dovetail

Zeusch Aviation flies medical, surveillance, mapping, and broadcast missions

Ascendance Steps Up Assembly of Atea Hybrid-electric VTOL Prototype

French company is now offering Sterna propulsion system to other aircraft developers

U.S. Army Tasks Electra with Assessing Hybrid-electric Propulsion

Electra Aero has now won seven Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts from the Army

Company Says New Seals, Gaskets Are Impervious to SAF

Nitrile seals can leak when exposed to 100% SAF

Pursuit Aerospace Forges Ahead with Larson Forgings

Deal expands metal forging capabilities

PBS Unveils Most Powerful Engine Yet for UAS

TJ200 will open possibility in defense and commercial unmanned systems where high performance is required

French Partners Plan Hybrid-electric Genav Aircraft

Daher, Safran, Collins, and Ascendance announce alliance in Paris

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN