Beta ALIA CX300 Lands First Flight In New York A first live demonstration flight with actual passengers onboard a Beta ALIA CX300 electric aircraft has made history for New York. Onboard were Blade Air Mobility CEO Rob Wiesenthal and Republic Airways President Matt Koscal. The flight carried 1 pilot and 4 passengers and was made in partnership with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Beta used one of their prototypes to land at John F. Kennedy International Airport (KJFK). The prototype utilized in the demonstration was the CX300 which is the conventionally take-off and landing version. Beta also has the ALIA 250 which is the full eVTOL version.
Beta is looking for Federal Aviation Administration Type Certification for the CX300 by the end of 2025. This variant should be easier to certify given it is more common in its take-off and landing to regular aircraft. Republic Airways has expressed interest in introducing electric aircraft to its operations. "With its all-electric design, impressive performance characteristics, and a thoughtful approach to passenger comfort, this aircraft reflects real progress in sustainable regional mobility," Koscal said. "We’re looking forward to continuing our engagement with Beta as we evaluate how their performance might complement our training programs and our overall commitment to advanced air mobility."
"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", Wiesenthal commented. "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."
New York City is trying to quickly position itself towards achieving close to net-zero carbon emissions across its network by 2050. "The Port Authority has long positioned itself as a testbed for transportation technologies of tomorrow, and this historic flight is the latest example of how we’re working to bring innovation into real-world infrastructure," said Port Authority chairman Kevin O’Toole. "We’re excited about the potential for innovations like advanced air mobility to ease regional travel while reducing emissions and noise pollution." For more information: Beta Technologies 1150 Airport Drive, South Burlington, VT www.beta.team ***
