Read the latest news about Beta Technologies.

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<p>Bristow has conducted its first flight test with Beta Technologies’ Alia aircraft, one of several new advanced air mobility (AAM) vehicles that the helicopter operator intends to add to its worldwide fleet of rotorcraft. A senior pilot from Bristow took the Alia prototype out for a spin on August 22&nbsp;to conduct a “qualitative evaluation” of the six-seat air taxi, Beta announced today.&nbsp;</p>
<p>With Bristow’s AAM program manager Bryan Willows at the helm (accompanied by Beta test pilot Chris Caputo), the aircraft took off from Beta’s flight test center in Plattsburgh, New York at 10:30 a.m. local time and clocked about 55 minutes in the air. “During the flight, Willows completed a standard flight profile featuring stalls, slow flight, and takeoffs/landings,” a Beta spokesperson told <strong>AIN</strong> in an emailed statement.&nbsp;</p>
<p>This marks the first time that a commercial customer has flown the Alia, following earlier flight trials conducted by FAA, <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-03-14/us-air-force-pilots-take-controls-betas-alia-first-crewed-military-evtol">Air Force</a>, and <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-01-31/us-army-looks-enlist-betas-alia-evtol-flight-test-contract">Army</a> test pilots. According to Beta, Willows is the seventh non-Beta pilot to fly the aircraft. Willows, a former Marine Corps pilot, joined Bristow in 2019 as the manager of its powered-lift program before moving over to the AAM division in 2022.</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/Bristow%20Flight%20Test%2020230822_0031.JPG" width="2200" height="1081" alt="Beta Technologies test pilot Chris Caputo (left) and Bryan Willows of Bristow pose in front of Beta's Alia aircraft prototype." title="Beta Technologies test pilot Chris Caputo (left) and Bryan Willows of Bristow pose in front of Beta's Alia aircraft prototype. (Photo: Beta Technologies)">

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            <div class="field field--name-field-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Beta Technologies test pilot Chris Caputo (left) and Bryan Willows of Bristow pose in front of Beta's Alia aircraft prototype. (Photo: Beta Technologies)</div>
      
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<figcaption>Beta Technologies test pilot Chris Caputo (left) and Bryan Willows of Bristow pose in front of Beta's Alia aircraft prototype. (Photo: Beta Technologies)</figcaption>
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<p>Beta Technologies, which is headquartered in Vermont, is developing two iterations of its all-electric Alia air taxi: one with vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) capabilities, and another conventional-takeoff-and-landing (CTOL) model—aka an airplane. Bristow plans to operate both versions of the aircraft.</p>
<p>Until recently, Beta was planning to only certify its eVTOL aircraft, called the Alia-250, while flying a CTOL prototype strictly for testing purposes. In March, Beta announced it would certify the CTOL model, called the CX300, in addition to the eVTOL version. The company is now working <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-03-13/beta-technologies-plans-certify-electric-ctol-airplane">to certify the CX300</a> under the FAA’s Part 23 rules for small airplanes, while the Alia-250 will be certified under the new 21.17 (b) rules for powered lift aircraft. Beta aims to certify and begin delivering the CX300 to customers in 2025, with certification and first deliveries of the Alia-250 to follow in 2026.</p>
<p>Bristow operates a worldwide fleet of more than 240 rotorcraft and primarily serves customers in the oil and gas sector, although it also provides charter flights and search-and-rescue services. The company in recent years has been stepping up plans to electrify its fleet, placing orders and signing provisional sales agreements with multiple eVTOL manufacturers, including <a href="https://futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-07-18/bristow-plans-lilium-jet-evtol-purchase-part-wider-partnership">Lilium</a>, <a href="https://futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-09-22/bristow-expands-fleet-electrification-plan-orders-vertical-aerospace-evtols">Vertical Aerospace</a>, <a href="https://futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-08-26/helicopter-group-bristow-shifts-business-model-commitment-50-estol-aircraft">Electra.aero</a>, <a href="https://futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-09-23/bristow-doubles-down-fleet-electrification-another-evtol-order">Eve Air Mobility</a>, <a href="https://futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-12-17/bristow-evaluates-overairs-butterfly-evtol-advanced-air-mobility-plans">Overair</a>, and <a href="https://futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-07-12/bristow-commits-ordering-100-chaparral-vtol-freighters-elroy-air">Elroy Air</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In August 2022, Bristow placed a firm <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-08-09/bristow-orders-55-betas-alia-250-evtol-aircraft">order for five Beta Alia eVTOL</a> aircraft, with the option to purchase an additional 50 units. When Beta announced its plans to certify the conventional CX300 model, Bristow placed an additional deposit-backed order for 50 CX300s.&nbsp;</p>
<p>While Beta’s CTOL prototype has been flying all over the U.S., the company is also engaged in a flight test campaign with a second prototype—its first eVTOL aircraft. The newer prototype features four vertical lift propellers mounted on two beams that run perpendicular to the wing. Beta’s eVTOL prototype has conducted numerous hover tests since its first flight last year and is progressing toward its first transition flight, in which the aircraft will transition from vertical to horizontal flight.</p>


Science & Technology Editor

Hanneke Weitering

Bristow Pilot Test Flies Beta's Alia Electric Airplane

<p>Electric aviation company Beta Technologies, which has been developing an eVTOL aircraft since 2017, plans&nbsp;to certify a conventional-style&nbsp;version of its all-electric model, the company announced today. Called the CX300, the fixed-wing, conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL)&nbsp;aircraft will look similar to the company’s six-seat <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/aircraft-program/beta-evtol">Alia-250 eVTOL</a> aircraft, but it will take off and land like an airplane. It will not have the ability to take off and land vertically like an eVTOL.</p>
<p>Beta intends&nbsp;to develop and certify the CX300 alongside the Alia-250, with the CX300 being certified under the FAA’s Part 23 rules for small airplanes while the Alia-250 will be certified under the <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-09-22/evtol-aircraft-developers-remain-concerned-over-new-faa-operational">new 21.17 (b) rules</a> for powered lift aircraft. It aims to achieve type certification and begin delivering the aircraft to customers in 2025.</p>
<p>The Vermont-based company has already conducted extensive flight tests with a prototype conventional&nbsp;model. Beta has previously said it was using the conventional airplane&nbsp;prototype to gather data on the aircraft’s performance during wing-borne cruise flight, which is how eVTOL aircraft will spend about 98 percent of their time in the air. Beta has also built a second prototype in an eVTOL configuration, called the Alia-250, which has so far conducted multiple hover flight tests but has not been involved in any of Beta’s lauded cross-country flights.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In December, Beta’s conventional aircraft completed its <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-12-19/beta-makes-second-cross-country-evtol-flight-charging-infrastructure">second cross-country mission</a>, flying 762 nm from Plattsburgh, New York, to Louisville, Kentucky, and making seven stops to recharge along the way. Earlier last year, in&nbsp;May, the aircraft&nbsp;completed a multistage trip from upstate New York to Bentonville, Arkansas, and back, logging more than 2,400 nm. In addition to its two electric aircraft models, Beta is building out a network of 150 aircraft <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-09-13/new-beta-app-gives-access-growing-network-electric-vehicle-charging">charging stations</a> at airports across the U.S. to be used by its own vehicles as well as other electric aircraft.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Beta’s aircraft has also been <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-03-14/us-air-force-pilots-take-controls-betas-alia-first-crewed-military-evtol">flown by the U.S. Air Force</a> and <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-01-31/us-army-looks-enlist-betas-alia-evtol-flight-test-contract">Army test pilots</a> as part of the military’s efforts to assess potential military applications for eVTOL aircraft. And recently, an FAA pilot flew the aircraft for an evaluation. Between these flights and the cross-country missions, Beta’s CX300 prototype has already logged more than 22,000 miles (35,400 kilometers), achieving a range of up to 386 miles (621 kilometers) on a single charge.</p>
<p>“We have been flying our eCTOL prototype airport-to-airport for a few years now to drive technological advancements in propulsion and systems, and now we’re seeing that there is a clear market for this product in addition to our eVTOL aircraft,” said Beta founder and CEO Kyle Clark.&nbsp;</p>
<p>“Global operators are looking for practical solutions to help meet their sustainability commitments, and after seeing the cost and performance of this prototype, our customers are eager to integrate it into their fleet,” Clark added. “With its known certification and operational path, this aircraft represents an opportunity to get electric aviation into the market, and into the hands of our customers, as quickly as possible.”</p>
<p>Several new and existing Beta customers have already placed orders for the CX300. <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2020-12-15/united-therapeutics-digs-deep-back-longer-range-evtol-aircraft">United Therapeutics</a>, Beta’s first launch customer for the Alia-250 eVTOL aircraft, has expressed interest in using the CX300 to transport medical equipment and human organs, although the company has not disclosed exactly how many units it aims to purchase. Helicopter operator <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-08-09/bristow-orders-55-betas-alia-250-evtol-aircraft">Bristow</a>, which previously announced plans to purchase up to 55 of Beta’s Alia-250 eVTOLs, has placed an additional deposit-backed order for 50 CX300s, according to Beta. Air New Zealand has also declared its intent to order three CX300s from Beta, with an option for 20 more, as part of its <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-12-14/air-new-zealand-names-four-partners-nextgen-aircraft-program">Mission NextGen Aircraft</a> program.&nbsp;</p>
<p>“As a continuation of our original partnership with Beta on their Alia 250 eVTOL, the CX300 gives us additional capability to introduce electric and sustainable aviation to our customer base around the world. We see many opportunities to supply logistics and personnel transport with CX300 once the aircraft is certified,” said Dave Stepanek, Bristow's executive vice president and chief transformation officer.</p>


Beta Technologies Plans To Certify Electric CTOL Airplane

<p>While Beta Technologies works to build out its network of charging stations throughout the U.S., the company’s all-electric Alia 250 eVTOL aircraft has been flying across the country for a series of demonstration flights.</p>
<p>Most recently, the eVTOL developer sent its Alia aircraft on a five-day journey across the eastern half of the U.S. The 876-mile (762 nm) mission began on November 30 in Plattsburgh, New York—about 20 miles northwest of the company’s headquarters in Burlington, Vermont—and ended in Louisville, Kentucky.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Over the course of five days, with test pilots Lochie Ferrier and Nick Warren at the helm, the Alia made seven stops in four states. Ferrier told <strong>FutureFlight</strong> that the trip went “better than we could have ever hoped,” with no hiccups to report other than a one-day weather delay for snow in New York. “We’re continuing to make improvements to our aircraft and to our charging network that enables these cross-country trips to go really well.”</p>
<p>The aircraft arrived at its final destination, UPS’ Worldport at Louisville International Airport in Kentucky, on December 3. At the major UPS logistics hub, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg had a chance to check out the aircraft and speak with Beta CEO Kyle Clark. The Department of Transportation oversees the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), an agency whose approval will be necessary for Beta to begin selling its aircraft to customers like UPS.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In April 2021, <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-04-07/ups-commits-operating-betas-alia-evtol-aircraft-package-deliveries">UPS became Beta’s third customer</a> when it agreed to purchase up to 150 of the company’s Alia 250 aircraft. The express package delivery giant plans to use the eVTOL aircraft to transport smaller shipments that would otherwise require ground vehicles or other small feeder aircraft to reach their destinations. (Beta also holds orders from <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-04-13/blade-orders-20-beta-alia-aircraft-air-mobility-services">Blade Urban Air Mobility</a> and United Therapeutics, which plans to use the aircraft to transport human organs for transplant.)</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%20Worldport_Buttigieg%20in%20ALIA%20%281%29.JPG" width="2200" height="1186" alt="U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg sits inside Beta's Alia 250 prototype at the UPS Worldport in Louisville, Kentucky, in December 2022." title="U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg sits inside Beta's Alia 250 prototype at the UPS Worldport in Louisville, Kentucky, in December 2022. (Photo: Beta Technologies)">

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            <div class="field field--name-field-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg sits inside Beta's Alia 250 prototype at the UPS Worldport in Louisville, Kentucky, in December 2022. (Photo: Beta Technologies)</div>
      
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<figcaption>U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg sits inside Beta's Alia 250 prototype at the UPS Worldport in Louisville, Kentucky, in December 2022. (Photo: Beta Technologies)</figcaption>
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<p>Initially designed for the transportation of medical products and cargo, Beta’s Alia 250 aircraft can carry 1,400 pounds of payload to a distance of up to 250 nm on a single charge, hence the aircraft’s name. However, while the company sees the Alia primarily serving cargo and logistics operations, it also plans to offer another configuration that can carry up to five passengers (plus one pilot). Beta says its eVTOL can fully recharge in just 50 minutes.&nbsp;</p>
<p>During the trip to Louisville, Beta said the cost to recharge the Alia aircraft came out to&nbsp;about $0.13 per mile, whereas the Cessna Caravan chase plane that accompanied the Alia cost $1.78 per mile to refuel.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The recent cross-country trek was the second such journey for Beta’s Alia, which in late May completed <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-06-24/amazon-makes-second-investment-beta-following-alia-evtol-test-flight">a multistage trip</a> from upstate New York to Bentonville, Arkansas and back, logging more than 2,400 nm. For that trip, Ferrier and fellow test pilot Camron Guthrie took turns piloting the aircraft and made stops in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri to recharge its batteries using Beta’s own multimodal charging stations.</p>
<p>A Beta spokeswoman told <strong>FutureFlight</strong> that the company has so far built two prototype aircraft which both conduct routine test flights. Serial number one, the aircraft that completed both cross-country trips this year, is configured for conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) “so we can gather data on in-flight performance, since that’s where the aircraft will be spending more than 95 percent of its time in operations,” the spokeswoman said. The other aircraft, serial number two, is configured for vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), and it completed its first successful hover flight earlier this year.&nbsp;</p>
<p>“It's pretty awesome to see an electric airplane out there on the road, flying in the real world in real airspace and real weather, flying real distances at relevant speeds, and doing that repeatedly,” Ferrier told <strong>FutureFlight</strong>. “I think is is very exciting for us as a company and then for electric aviation broadly to see that happening.”</p>
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            <div class="field field--name-field-media-oembed-video field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item"><iframe src="https://backend.ainonline.com//media/oembed?url=https%3A//www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DyraISXJgW8k%26ab_channel%3DBETATECHNOLOGIES&amp;max_width=0&amp;max_height=0&amp;hash=0wBP2PGUOfHd_7ybhtU0JND704Zq-u9-iUvQNDHdgr0" width="200" height="113" class="media-oembed-content" loading="eager" title="BETA ALIA Flies to Arkansas"></iframe>
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<h2 class="heading"><strong>Building Beta’s Charging Infrastructure</strong></h2>
<p>While Beta is hard at work getting its eVTOL aircraft certified by the FAA, the company is also in the process of building out a widespread network of charging stations that can be used not only to charge its own Alia aircraft, but also to charge other types of electric aircraft and even ground vehicles. In addition to the Alia program and network of charging stations, Beta is also <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-09-15/cae-provide-pilot-and-mechanic-training-betas-alia-250-evtol">working with CAE</a> to develop pilot and maintenance technician training programs for its eVTOL aircraft.</p>
<p>“We think of ourselves as an aircraft ecosystem company,” Nathan Ward, who leads Beta's work on its charging network, said during a webinar hosted by the National Air Transportation Association in late October. “We don't envision ourselves and have no plans to be either a Part 135 or Part 121 [operator] or FBO. So we're really building an electric aircraft and then the supporting systems around it to make this new fuel source, electricity, work in a very well established industry in aviation.”</p>
<p>Beta plans to have a network of about 150 charging stations up and running by 2025, the same year that the company plans to have its aircraft certified and ready to begin commercial operations. So far the company has nine publicly accessible electric chargers online in four states, and at least 55 additional sites are currently in the process of permitting and construction.</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%20charging%20station%20map.jpg" width="2200" height="1080" alt="This map of the U.S. shows where Beta Technologies has plans to build its charging network. Charging stations that are already up and running are shown in green." title="This map shows where Beta Technologies has plans to build its charging network. Charging stations that are already up and running are shown in green. (Image: Beta Technologies)">

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            <div class="field field--name-field-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">This map shows where Beta Technologies has plans to build its charging network. Charging stations that are already up and running are shown in green. (Image: Beta Technologies)</div>
      
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<figcaption>This map shows where Beta Technologies has plans to build its charging network. Charging stations that are already up and running are shown in green. (Image: Beta Technologies)</figcaption>
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<p>Beta’s charging stations will utilize a 350 kW&nbsp;DC fast charger, which is “not a whole lot different than something you'd see at a highway rest stop or maybe at a gas station today,” Ward explained. “It’s as powerful as they come for this type of charger … We're talking about charging a battery that's the size of three [Tesla] Model S's worth of battery in under an hour.”</p>
<p>Each charging station can support up to two chargers and connect to the aircraft via combined charging system (CCS) standard plugs with 50-foot-long cables. The chargers are conveniently located at the edge of the ramp for easy access. A rectifier unit takes AC power from the electrical grid and converts it to DC current. At some locations, electric road vehicles located groundside of the airport can also use the same charging stations as the electric aircraft, with the airside and groundside segments of the charger separated by the airport’s fence.&nbsp;</p>
<p>“Bringing a electric vehicle charger, especially a high-powered one, inside the security fence has its nuances, and we've been working through that,” Ward said. “We're at about 50 airports right now in some form of development with a bunch more coming,” he said, adding that Beta is actively initiating conversations “with as many airport partners as possible” to implement its vast network of charging infrastructure.&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/Charge%20Cubes_with%20ALIA.JPG" width="2200" height="1081" alt="Beta's Alia 250 prototype is pictured next to two of the company's Charge Cubes." title="Beta's Alia 250 prototype is pictured next to two of the company's Charge Cubes. (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 250 prototype is pictured next to two of the company's Charge Cubes. (Photo: Beta Technologies)</div>
      
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<figcaption>Beta's Alia 250 prototype is pictured next to two of the company's Charge Cubes. (Photo: Beta Technologies)</figcaption>
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<p>To install one of these new chargers, airports and FBOs are required to first complete an FAA 7460, “Notice of Proposed Construction or Alteration” application, as well as a Section 163 airport layout plan review. Ward said this process can take anywhere from two to nine months, depending on the location. “Every airport district office who reviews 7460s is a little different,” he said. “We speak to the FAA regularly so they know what we're doing and that's the made the process more efficient.”</p>
<p>Once those plans are in place, it can take anywhere from 20 to 44 weeks to get the equipment required to build the charging stations, Ward explained, citing ongoing supply chain issues and the increasing demand for electronic equipment. “The long pole in the tent for sure is the long-lead equipment, and that's really the transformer and the switch gear,” Ward said. “If you're looking at being in a position to be ready when these next aircraft come into the marketplace, realistically speaking, you need to have solid plans in place.”</p>


Beta Makes Second Cross-Country eVTOL Flight as Charging Infrastructure Expands

<p><span><span><span>Beta Technologies has launched a mobile app that provides access to the electric vehicle charging stations it is installing across the U.S. The start-up, which is developing the Alia 250 eVTOL aircraft, says that the new Beta Charge facilities are be able to support other makes of electric aircraft and also electric road vehicles.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>In May, Beta used some of the initial 10 charging stations when its Alia prototype completed a <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-06-24/amazon-makes-second-investment-beta-following-alia-evtol-test-flight">1,400-mile multistage trip</a> from Plattsburgh Airport in upstate New York to Bentonville, Arkansas, with seven stops along the route in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri. Earlier this year, when announcing a further $375 million in funding for the Alia program, the Vermont-based company said it had started the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-04-20/beta-secures-375-million-support-development-alia-250-evtol-aircraft-and">installation&nbsp;or permitting of 65 charging stations</a>, with &nbsp;“hundreds” more in the planning stage.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>The <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/beta-technologies/id1615477994">app</a> allows operators to locate the nearest charging station on their route and then initiate the charging process when on site. Its payment processing function stores details of transactions and charging history for each vehicle, and can also be used to redeem vouchers for recharging that Beta may issue to individual customers or as part of a network-wide promotion.</span></span></span></p>
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<p><span><span><span>“We created our chargers to increase accessibility, which is why they are multimodal in design,” said Beta in a media release. “Each charging station in our network...supports the ground electric vehicles of today as well as the electric vehicles of tomorrow—so they can support other electric aircraft, not just our own.”</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>The charging stations have radio frequency identification readers, each with a unique code that the charger reads to relay data to Beta's server. The server then pairs that code with a user account and authorizes the charging session.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>In August, helicopter operator Bristow became the latest prospective customer for the Alia 250, which Beta aims to certify&nbsp;and have ready to enter commercial service in 2025. The all-electric aircraft will operate with a pilot on board, carrying up to five passengers or 1,400 pounds of cargo on trips of up to 250 nm (460 km). Other operators planning to add the Alia to their fleet include express delivery giant UPS, private flight provider Blade, and medical logistics company United Therapeutics.</span></span></span></p>
<p>Several other electric aircraft developers, including <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-07-16/eve-and-energy-group-edp-will-develop-electrical-charging-infrastructure">Eve</a>, <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-10-12/abb-develop-megawatt-charging-points-lilium-jets">Lilium</a>, and <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-09-15/clay-lacy-teams-eviation-provide-electric-aircraft-recharging-stations">Eviation</a>, are also working on charging infrastructure as part of wider plans to ensure a complete ecosystem is in place for the launch of commercial operations.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>


Managing Editor

Charles Alcock

New Beta App Gives Access to Growing Network of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

<p>Helicopter operator Bristow is continuing to expand into the advanced air mobility (AAM) market with plans to acquire&nbsp;as many as 55 Alia 250 eVTOL aircraft from Beta Technologies. The company announced on August 9 that it has placed a firm order for five of Beta’s electrically powered aircraft with the option to purchase an additional 50 units. The announcement did not state whether a deposit has been paid or provide other details of the terms of the agreement.</p>
<p>“​This order firmly positions Bristow as an early adopter and leader in pragmatically developing AAM operations and ushering in a new era in vertical lift solutions,” said Bristow executive vice president and chief transformation officer Dave Stepanek.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Vermont-based Beta Technologies is developing the all-electric <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/aircraft-program/beta-evtol?model=alia">Alia 250 eVTOL</a> aircraft for civilian and military uses. It can carry six people, including a pilot, or up to 1,400 pounds (635 kg) of cargo across distances of up to 250 miles (400 km), flying at a top speed of about 170 mph (270 km/h). The aircraft’s propulsion system features four vertical lift propellers mounted on beams that run perpendicular to a 50-foot fixed wing. At the rear of the fuselage is a single pusher propeller.</p>
<p>“We designed Alia with reliability, efficiency, and the highest-value cargo in mind, all of which are central to the types of critical missions Bristow carries out on a global stage," said Kyle Clark, founder and CEO of Beta Technologies. "Over the past few months, we've made strides with our flight test program, proving the aircraft is capable of performing in conditions it will see in service.”&nbsp;</p>
<p>Beta plans to have its Alia 250 aircraft certified and ready to start commercial operations in 2025. The aircraft received <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-05-05/us-air-force-awards-airworthiness-approval-betas-alia-evtol-prototype">airworthiness approval</a> from the U.S. Air Force in May 2021, and Air Force pilots have already conducted some crewed <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-03-14/us-air-force-pilots-take-controls-betas-alia-first-crewed-military-evtol">demonstration flights</a> with an Alia prototype.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Other Beta customers include the Dublin-based <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-04-27/lessor-lci-places-deposits-125-betas-alia-250-evtol-aircraft">aircraft leasing group LCI</a>, which plans to add up to 125 Alia eVTOL aircraft to its portfolio, and New York-based <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-04-13/blade-orders-20-beta-alia-aircraft-air-mobility-services">Blade Urban Air Mobility</a>, which aims to add up to 20 of the aircraft to its passenger transportation services network. <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-04-07/ups-commits-operating-betas-alia-evtol-aircraft-package-deliveries">UPS</a> has also announced plans to buy up to 150 units for cargo delivery services, and the United Therapeutics medical technology group has committed to buying an unspecified number of the aircraft to use for the time-sensitive transportation of human organs for transplants.</p>
<p>Houston-based Bristow operates a worldwide fleet of more than 240 rotorcraft and provides a variety of aviation services. It has mainly served customers in the oil and gas sector, but also provides charter flights and search-and-rescue services. The company plans to use the Alia aircraft “to safely and reliably move passengers and time-sensitive cargo as part of the development of new regional mobility networks in the U.S. and other strategic locations,” Stepanek said.</p>
<p>This week, Bristow reported improved first quarter financial results with revenues reaching $301.7 million for the three months to June 30, compared with $287.4 million in the fourth quarter of its 2022 financial year. The group reported net income of $4 million in the latest quarter, after recording a $4.3 million loss in the quarter ending March 31.</p>
<p>In July, Bristow released its first sustainability report, which summarized its strategy to move into operations of new eVTOL and eSTOL aircraft. Last week, it completed the acquisition of British International Helicopter Services.</p>
<p>Beta Technologies is just the latest in a growing list of eVTOL developers with whom Bristow has made commitments to purchase new aircraft. Last month Bristow signed two non-binding agreements with San Francisco-based Elroy Air and the German eVTOL developer Lilium <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-07-12/bristow-commits-ordering-100-chaparral-vtol-freighters-elroy-air">to purchase 100 Chaparral</a> hybrid-electric VTOL air cargo vehicles and <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-07-18/bristow-plans-lilium-jet-evtol-purchase-part-wider-partnership">50 Lilium Jets</a>, respectively. Bristow has also previously pre-ordered up to <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-12-17/bristow-evaluates-overairs-butterfly-evtol-advanced-air-mobility-plans">50 of Overair’s Butterfly</a> eVTOL aircraft, up to <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-09-23/bristow-doubles-down-fleet-electrification-another-evtol-order">100 of Eve’s eVTOL</a> aircraft, and at least <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-09-22/bristow-expands-fleet-electrification-plan-orders-vertical-aerospace-evtols">25 Vertical Aerospace VX4 eVTOLS</a>.</p>


Bristow Orders Up to 55 of Beta’s Alia 250 eVTOL Aircraft

<p><span><span>Retail giant Amazon this week made a second investment of an undisclosed amount in eVTOL aircraft developer Beta Technologies. In May 2021, the company’s $2 billion Climate Pledge Fund contributed to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-04-20/beta-secures-375-million-support-development-alia-250-evtol-aircraft-and">private funding </a>round led by Fidelity Management &amp; Research Company.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>On June&nbsp;23, <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/aircraft-program/beta-evtol">Beta’s Alia 250</a> prototype aircraft conducted a test flight between two of Amazon’s Air Hub facilities, making the 55-mile journey from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport to Wilmington Air Park in Ohio. The flight was part of an ongoing series of sorties involving the Alia, which is intended for both passenger and cargo services. Over the past two weeks, it has made stops in cities including Springfield and the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, as well as the Louisville, Kentucky hub of express delivery group UPS.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>Amazon has not committed to adding the eVTOL aircraft to its fleet but appears interested in the potential of a vehicle that could carry three cargo pallets in a cabin that could otherwise accommodate six people, including a pilot. The company says it is backing Beta with funding because it wants to help advance zero-emissions flights.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>Amazon established its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-05-18/fidelity-and-amazon-back-beta-368-million-funding-round">Climate Pledge Fund</a>&nbsp;in 2019 to support the development of sustainable and decarbonizing technologies and services. The group has also invested in hydrogen propulsion pioneer ZeroAvia. </span></span></p>
<p><span><span>Amazon has faced strong criticism from environmental groups for its rising carbon footprint from the burgeoning home-delivery sector. The company is committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 and&nbsp;wants to power all its operations with renewable fuel by 2025. Beta aims to have the all-electric Alia certified and ready to start commercial operations in 2025.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>In late May, Beta completed a multistage trip with the Alia from Plattsburgh Airport in upstate New York to Bentonville,&nbsp;Arkansas. The aircraft (tail number N250UT) logged 1,403 miles in 11 hours and 44 minutes of flight time, making stops&nbsp;en route in&nbsp;Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri. Test pilots Lochie Ferrier and Camron Guthrie recharged the Alia’s batteries four times during the week-long trip, using Beta’s own multimodal charging stations in four of the locations visited.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>Beta has signed agreements covering provisional sales with express delivery company&nbsp;UPS, leasing group LCI, and private charter provider Blade Urban Air Mobility. The start-up says it has now raised&nbsp;$796 million, entirely from private backers.</span></span></p>


Amazon Makes Second Investment in Beta, Following Alia eVTOL Test Flight

<p><span><span><span>Leasing group LCI is planning to add up to 125 of <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/aircraft-program/beta-evtol">Beta Technologies’ Alia 250 eVTOL</a> aircraft to its portfolio. In a deposit-backed agreement signed with the manufacturer on April 27, the Ireland-based company committed to taking an initial batch of the five-passenger aircraft, with options for 75 more.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>LCI says the Alias will complement its current fleet of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, almost doubling its aviation assets to 270 units. The company, which is part of the Libra Group, with aircraft and operations in some 50 countries, intends to provide commercial, financial, and supply-chain expertise. Since its formation in 2004, it has conducted aviation transactions valued at over $8 billion.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>“We are embracing this new era of sustainable flight and Beta Technologies’ <span>innovative approach makes them a natural and credible partner for LCI,” said LCI CEO Jaspal Jandu. “We believe that the aircraft’s blend of rechargeable battery power, significant internal capacity, and plentiful range is an optimal one. We are confident it will be a popular choice for operators and end-users seeking to develop and augment their fleets with this truly sustainable technology.”</span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>According to Vermont-based Beta, the Alia will have a range of 250 nm (287 miles) with five passengers and a pilot. Alternatively, it can carry 1,400 pounds of freight for applications such as logistics deliveries.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>The manufacturer says the all-electric aircraft will be able to recharge in under an hour. It is developing a network of charging infrastructure in the U.S.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span>“As a leading aircraft lessor with an established global track record, LCI has a strong pulse on what operators are looking for,” said Kyle Clark, Beta's founder and CEO. “We are gratified by their confidence that the solutions we’re building will answer the need for next-generation, zero-emission electric aircraft. We are excited to partner with LCI and push adoption of this solution forward within the industry.”</span></span></span></span></span></p>


Lessor LCI Places Deposits for Up to 125 of Beta's Alia 250 eVTOL Aircraft

<p><span><span>Beta Technologies has raised a further $375 million to support the development of its <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/aircraft-program/beta-evtol">Alia 250 eVTOL aircraft</a> and charging infrastructure in a round of private financing led by TPG Rise Climate, the dedicated climate investing strategy of TPG’s global impact investing platform TPG Rise, and Fidelity Management &amp; Research Company. The Vermont-based start-up called the funding round announced on April 20 as, “meaningfully oversubscribed.”</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>Fidelity also backed an earlier funding round that raised $368 million in May 2021. That round was also supported by Amazon's Climate Pledge Fund, and Beta has now raised a total of $796 million.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>Designed initially for the transportation of medical products and cargo, the Alia 250 will carry 1,400 pounds of payload and requires less than an hour to charge after full missions. While Beta Technologies sees the Alia primarily serving cargo, logistics, and medical applications, it also plans a configuration meant to carry up to five passengers and a pilot. The company expects the aircraft to gain FAA type certification in 2024.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>Beta also has built and deployed multimodal, charging infrastructure across the U.S. to support electric vehicles, including various types of eVTOLs and ground electric vehicles. The company has begun the installation of more than 65 charging locations now online or in the permit phase and plans for “hundreds” more at strategic locations. </span></span></p>
<p><span><span>The network already extends from Burlington, Vermont, to Melbourne, Florida, and Bentonville, Arkansas, and Beta plans to continue expansion across the U.S. The charging network includes on- and off-airport stations, featuring new capabilities and providing what Beta calls “a true end-to-end solution” for customers' full fleet of ground and air vehicles.&nbsp;</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>“Zero emissions aviation is a critical part of turning the corner on climate change, and we are thrilled that our investors see our electric aviation system as a meaningful step towards this ambitious goal,” said Kyle Clark, Beta’s Founder and CEO. “This support allows us to complete the construction of our production facilities and accelerate our certification work to create a greener and more efficient future for all applications of aviation, starting with cargo and logistics and moving to passenger missions immediately thereafter.”&nbsp;</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>In recent months, Beta has achieved critical technical and airworthiness milestones. In March, two U.S. Air Force pilots flew the Alia 250 in a handling qualities evaluation test, marking the first-ever manned flight of an electric aircraft through the Afwerx Agility Prime program. The flight marked a key step in the U.S. Air Force’s evaluation of Beta’s aircraft for use in future missions. In preparation for the flight, the USAF pilots underwent extensive safety and preparedness training for the flight tests, completing intensive aircraft academics on Beta’s Alia, attending thorough ground school sessions to learn every system of the aircraft from the Beta subject matter experts who built them, and undergoing simulator training to understand how to manage unplanned events. “This deep engagement is illustrative of Beta’s overall real-world approach to safety,” said the company. </span></span></p>
<p><span><span>Beta says it holds committed orders and contracts with leading operators across military, medical, cargo and passenger. Package delivery giant UPS, for one, placed a firm order for 10 aircraft with the option to order an additional 140 and reserved the right to purchase Beta's charging stations. Beta’s first customer, United Therapeutics, plans to use the aircraft to transport its manufactured and repaired organs for human transplantation and will use its charging stations to support those missions.&nbsp; </span></span></p>
<p><span><span>In addition to a recent first crewed flight milestone,&nbsp;the Alia 250 was the first eVTOL to receive military airworthiness approval for a manned electric aircraft through the program. The U.S. Army signed a contract with Beta earlier this year to support the advancement of its operational flight test program. Blade Urban Air Mobility ordered five Alia aircraft and reserved an option for up to 20 to support plans to serve a diverse set of mission profiles, including airport transfers and longer-distance commuter routes.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>Beta said it plans to use the latest tranche of funds to accelerate growth and operations as it progresses toward FAA certification of the Alia. Specifically, it will continue to refine its electric propulsion systems and controls, advance testing of its two Alia prototypes, and expand its charging infrastructure. </span></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>


Senior Editor

Gregory Polek

Beta Secures $375 Million To Support Development of Alia 250 eVTOL Aircraft and Charging Network

<p><span><span><span>A pair of&nbsp; U.S. Air Force (USAF) pilots have conducted the first flight demonstration of <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/aircraft-program/beta-evtol">Beta Technologies' Alia 250 eVTOL</a> aircraft crewed by military personnel as part of the Afwerx Agility Prime program. The U.S. manufacturer today reported that on March 9, the all-electric vehicle was flown by Hank Griffiths, chief of engineering and airworthiness and test lead for the Air Force’s Afwerx team, and Major Jonathan Appleby.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>Under an Agility Prime small business innovation research contract aimed at evaluating the potential for eVTOL aircraft to be used for military applications, USAF engineers have been working with the Beta team for&nbsp;two years. In May 2021 the Air Force awarded the first military airworthiness approval for a crewed electric aircraft to the six-seat Alia 250 that the company is aiming to start delivering in 2024. </span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>According to Beta, the crewed test flights marked the next step in its partnership with the USAF. This is expected to give the Agility Prime team more data points to inform plans to electrify the Air Force inventory and to better understand the types of mission profiles that eVTOLs could undertake.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>Before flying the Alia for around one hour each, both USAF pilots were able to study its performance manual. On March 7 and 8, they conducted extensive training that covered aircraft structures, electric motors, batteries, flight controls, avionics, aerodynamics, and safety. </span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>Griffiths and Appleby then spent time practicing the flight test route in Beta’s so-called “thunderdome” simulator before taking the controls of the Alia accompanied by, respectively, test pilots Camron Guthrie and Lochie Ferrier. The flight tests took off from Beta’s facility in Plattsburgh, New York, which is 35 miles from the company’s headquarters in South Burlington, Vermont.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>“Today’s USAF qualitative evaluation flight is the first of many that we will be doing with Beta Technologies and our other Agility Prime vendors,” Griffiths said after the flight. “In addition to accelerating these companies’ path to FAA type certification by providing access to USAF engineering expertise and test infrastructure, we are also evaluating these prototypes for opportunities to utilize them for unique military missions. We need government pilots to accomplish these evaluations, and this is the first step in developing the training and experimentation plans to do so.”</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>In December 2020,</span></span></span>&nbsp;USAF&nbsp;Capt. Terrence McKenna&nbsp;conducted the first remotely-piloted flight of an eVTOL aircraft under the direct control of the government. McKenna, who is a reserve pilot and test&nbsp;and experimentation lead with the&nbsp;Agility Prime program, participated in remote-pilot-in-control&nbsp;exercises on Kitty Hawk’s Heavyside vehicle.</p>
<p><span><span><span>Beta has named the Alia after the Arctic tern bird, which it says flies farther than any other migratory bird when it relocates between the poles over a distance of nearly 25,000. The start-up is targeting a range of 250 nm and a top speed of 150 knots, with a full recharge time of under an hour.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>As it continues the process of achieving type certification for the Alia, which has a 50-foot wingspan, Beta is also working on plans for a network of charging infrastructure across the U.S. It already has installed 60 charging stations between Vermont and Arkansas. </span></span></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>


U.S. Air Force Pilots Take the Controls of Beta's Alia for First Crewed Military eVTOL Flight

<p><span><span><span>The U.S. Army is to support flight testing of the <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/aircraft-program/beta-evtol">Beta Technologies Alia 250 eVTOL</a> aircraft to assess possible military applications. Under a contract announced today, which does not mention specific financial backing for the program, Army engineers will participate in flight testing, “to evaluate mission applicability, including measures of range, altitude, endurance, and payload limits before testing specific cargo and logistics missions.”</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>Beta’s flight-test program has also been supported by the U.S. Air Force, which last year issued military airworthiness approval for the Alia and provided funding under an earlier contract as part of its Agility Prime program. The company has conducted multiple flights between its headquarters at Burlington International Airport in Vermont and nearby Plattsburg in New York. The longest flight to date with the all-electric aircraft, which uses fixed-pitch propellers, was 205 miles and it has cruised at altitudes of 8,000 feet.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>“This partnership with the Army marks another important step in the military’s commitment to advancing and adopting sustainable electric aviation solutions,” said Beta founder and CEO Kyle Clark. “We’re gratified by the continued support of the sector, and this allows us to accelerate our development of Alia as an incredibly safe and reliable logistics aircraft for both military and civil applications.”</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>The company’s board of directors includes Will Roper, the former U.S. assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology, and logistics. He was instrumental in establishing the Agility Prime program, which is seeking to support efforts to exploit the potential for eVTOL aircraft for use in military missions, mainly through small business technology transfer contracts.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>During the Reagan National Defense Forum held on December 5, 2021, the Air Force's chief of staff, General Charles Brown, praised the Afwerx program for expediting the development of technology that could strengthen national defense. "It has marked a real cultural shift [in how public and private sectors collaborate], so we work very closely together rather than just pushing [a product or technology] back and forth over a fence until it works," he commented.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>In the commercial aviation market, several prospective customers have signed “rights to purchase” the Alia, which is expected to complete FAA Part 23 type certification in 2024. These include express delivery group UPS, which plans to add 150 aircraft to its fleet, the medical group United Therapeutics, which intends to transport human organs for transplant, and passenger charter flight booking platform Blade Urban Air Mobility.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>Beta intends to support operators by providing electric charging infrastructure that can be deployed across a network of locations.</span></span></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>


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Lessor LCI Places Deposits for Up to 125 of Beta's Alia 250 eVTOL Aircraft

Beta Secures $375 Million To Support Development of Alia 250 eVTOL Aircraft and Charging Network

U.S. Air Force Pilots Take the Controls of Beta's Alia for First Crewed Military eVTOL Flight

U.S. Army Looks To Enlist Beta's Alia eVTOL with Flight Test Contract

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