Beta Technologies advances electric air taxi plans
AgenciesVermont-based aircraft manufacturer Beta Technologies has received federal certification to fly potential customers aboard its ALIA eVTOL, an all-electric aircraft capable...
Beta Technologies, a Burlington-based aircraft manufacturer, has received federal certification to fly potential customers in its ALIA eVTOL, an all-electric aircraft capable of vertical takeoff and landing. The approval, described as a "critical milestone for Beta," opens the door for commercial operations, according to a statement from a Beta spokesperson.
The certification allows the ALIA eVTOL to be flown with participants and operators to gather data for marketing surveys, enabling takeoffs and landings at commercial airports. Frank Cioffi, president of the Greater Burlington Industrial Corporation, believes successful flights mark a step towards electric airplanes filling the horizon.
Beta Technologies, which designs and sells electric aircraft and related systems, employs nearly 1,400 people and serves a global customer base. The company's ALIA aircraft family includes the ALIA CTOL and ALIA eVTOL models. The new Special Airworthiness Market Survey Certificate, the first of its kind, signifies the FAA's confidence in the safety and viability of these aircraft for commercial use.
All-electric planes could benefit various industries, such as medevac and cargo services, by offering cost-effective, flexible transportation options and improving road congestion, emergency services, and rural connectivity. Beta's first flight under the certification was from Plattsburgh to Burlington.
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