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Beta Alia Bristow

Bristow places firm order for Beta’s Alia eVTOL aircraft

By eVTOL | August 9, 2022

Estimated reading time 5 minutes, 8 seconds.

Beta Technologies’ Alia-250 is the latest eVTOL aircraft that has caught the attention of offshore helicopter operator Bristow Group. The companies confirmed that Bristow has placed a firm order for five aircraft, with the option for an additional 50.

Beta Alia Bristow
Bristow Group has placed a firm commitment for five of Beta Technologies’ Alia-250 eVTOL aircraft with an option to purchase 50 additional aircraft. Beta / Bristow Image

Dave Stepanek, executive vice president and chief transformation officer of Bristow, said the company plans to use the Alia to move passengers and time-sensitive cargo as part of the development of new regional mobility networks in the U.S. and other locations.

“This order firmly positions Bristow as an early adopter and leader in pragmatically developing AAM [advanced air mobility] operations and ushering in a new era in vertical lift solutions,” Stepanek said.  

The partnership with Beta is just the latest in Bristow’s plan to pursue AAM. The offshore helicopter operator also has partnerships with Lilium, Elroy Air, Overair, Eve Air Mobility, Vertical Aerospace, and eSTOL developer Electra.aero for future aircraft orders.

With a 50-foot (15-meter) wingspan and a carbon fiber fuselage, the Alia is powered by a single distributed direct-electric propulsion system. It has four horizontally mounted rotors that provide vertical lift, and a single propeller in the rear for forward flight.

The Alia is targeting a maximum range of 250 nautical miles (288 miles or 463 kilometers), designed to carry 1,400 pounds (635 kilograms) of payload or a pilot and five passengers. Beta claims its battery can be charged in less than an hour using the startup’s own charging infrastructure.

“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.

Clark said the company has made strides in its flight test program, “proving the aircraft is capable of performing in conditions it will see in service.”

Notably, the Alia completed a two-part cross-country flight, traveling 1,400 mi (2,250 km) across six states in May. Flying in conventional take-off and landing mode, the Alia took off at its flight test center in northern New York and traveled across Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas over several days.

To bolster its flight test program, Beta is also working with the U.S. Air Force, which achieved its first crewed flight using the Alia aircraft in March, as well as the U.S. Army.

In addition to Bristow, Beta has already announced orders from UPS for up to 150 Alia aircraft, as well as Blade Air Mobility for up to 20 aircraft and LCI for up to 125 aircraftUnited Therapeutics will be Beta’s launch partner and has plans to use the Alia to transport organs for human transplant.

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