Beta Technologies, having flown its Alia from coast-to-coast and back, extebds its reach to New York City and even Shannon, Ireland.
Beta Lands in New York
Having completed an epic cross-country tour of the United States, a Beta Alia made a triumphant return to its Vermont home accompanied by two of its stable-mates. Flying magazine pointed out some significant features of the long cross-country trip that preceded this homecoming. “The trip was more than a public relations exercise, though. N916LF flew in VFR (Visual Flight Rules), IFR (Instrument Flight Rules), day, and night conditions through snowstorms and scorching heat—an impressive validation of its systems considering Beta registered the model with the FAA less than six months ago.”
The First Electric Aircraft Landing at JFK
A little more than two months after that return, Beta staged its next demonstration of Alia’s versatility. by performing the first all-electric aircraft landing at John F. Kennedy airport in New York City.
Reuters reported, “Beta Technologies became the first U.S. company to land an all-electric aircraft at an airport in the New York-New Jersey region, the company and port authorities said in Tuesday (June 3).” The 45 -minute flight betwen East Hampton and JFK took 45 minutes and was piloted by Beta’s founder and CEO, Kyle Clark. He told reporters, “That flight we just took from East Hampton to here was like $8 in electricity.”
The four passengers aboard enjoyed ample leg and elbow room, and everyone got a window seat.
The conventional Short Take Off and Landing (cSTOL) Alia CX-300 used a regular runway for landing, but the Alia also comes in an electric Veritical Take Off and Landing (eVTOL)configuration for more constricted landing sites. Beta hs been successful in raising funds to make those developments a reality, including an October gain of $318 million, “in equity capital to fund production, certification, and commercialization of electric aircraft, bringing its total raised value to more than $1 billion.”
Also in October, the Federal Aviation Administration finalized comprehensive training and pilot certification rules for flying air taxis, calling it “the final piece in the puzzle for safely introducing these aircraft in the near term,” according to Reuters.
Electrek.com added, “This was a historic flight for the young aerospace company as it was the first time its ALIA CTOL aircraft was operated with passengers onboard. The NYC-bound electric aircraft transported a pilot and four passengers, including Republic Airways President Matt Koscal and Blade Air Mobility CEO Rob Wiesenthal.”
Wiesenthal was enthusiastic about his flight. “This electric aircraft flight from Long Island to New York City highlights that quiet and emission-free flight is quickly becoming a reality benefiting Blade’s fliers, local residents, and other key stakeholders. I can think of no better way to demonstrate our company’s commitment to quiet, electric aircraft commercialization than my participation on this flight as a passenger myself.”
Pilot Kyle Clark explained the flight’s significance. “Flying our electric aircraft into one of the world’s busiest airports, with passengers, proves advanced air mobility is not some future concept, it’s here. Today’s flight is about more than technology; it’s about innovation and connecting communities in safer, quieter, and more efficient ways. After years of rigorous safety testing in all types of environments, we’re proud to stand here with the Port Authority and the city of New York to demonstrate exactly how this aircraft can serve cities by easing congestion, reducing emissions, and increasing accessibility.“
The ALIA CTOL is the first AAM (Advamced Air Mobility) aircraft to obtain a market survey certificate from the FAA, enabling BETA Technologies to conduct demonstration flights under specific safety standards before being awarded full FAA certification for commercial operations.
A Different Kind of Landing in Ireland
The Irish Times reported, “Shannon Airport is believed to have made aviation history as the location for the first commercial electric plane flight manned by pilot in Ireland.
“US company Beta Technologies debuted its electric Alia CTOL plane with a conventional take-off and landing at Shannon.
“It marks the first of a series of planned stops Beta’s CTOL aircraft N214BT, which was shipped to Ireland, will make across Europe; culminating in its final delivery to a customer in Norway.”
According to The Times, Beta, “is setting up a hub in Shannon with the help of Future Mobility Campus Ireland based at the airport.” Kyle Clark noted, ““This is more than just an arrival, it’s a springboard to bring the future of aviation to Europe.”
Future Mobility Campus Ireland, FMCI, is a program collaborating with national and international partners, “to explore the use of drones for transporting people over urban areas.” The group will also work with Beta on setting up an infrasturcture, including a network of charging stations.
FMCI chief executive Russell Vickers said: “Partnering with Beta on these historic flights is a milestone moment … It epitomises our mission to support the future of air mobility. FMCI serves not just as a launch pad for Irish innovation, but as a landing pad for global pioneers.”
As with the landing at JFK, the trip to Ireland and that planned around Europe take planning and cooperation. That may be the most significant aspect of all these recent accomplishments,
Coming: The Grand Tour
The Alia then crossed the English Channel preporatory to its “Grand Tour,” a visit to the major capitals of the Eurpean Union. We will be reporting on Beta’s tour in future entries.
Beta seems to be on an ever-expanding series of adventures, finding customers in New Zealand, Norway, and throughot Europe and America. The firm’s well-received visits show enormous promise.