### BETA Technologies' Electric Aircraft Successfully Completes First Passenger Flight in NYC

Electric aircraft developer BETA Technologies reached a significant milestone today as its ALIA CTOL plane completed a successful 45-minute demonstration flight with passengers onboard, landing safely at JFK International Airport in New York City.

BETA Technologies, an innovative electric aircraft and systems developer from Vermont, has been making strides in the aerospace industry for the past few years. The company originally introduced its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, ALIA-250, four years ago, which has since been rebranded as ALIA VTOL. In addition to its VTOL model, BETA is also working on an electric conventional takeoff and landing (eCTOL) plane named ALIA CTOL. This aircraft has logged tens of thousands of test miles as it undergoes evaluation flights for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification, with a goal of achieving commercial operation approval by the end of this year.

Following a Special Airworthiness Certificate from the FAA, the production-ready ALIA CTOL aircraft embarked on a test flight last November, piloted by BETA's founder and CEO, Kyle Clark. Earlier in the year, the aircraft completed a cross-country electric flight from New York City to Los Angeles. Additionally, after signing an agreement with 47G (Utah Aerospace and Defense), BETA flew a demonstration route covering 350 miles and six airports across Utah.

Today’s achievement in New York City represents the first time the ALIA CTOL was flown with passengers. The milestone was reached in collaboration with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The successful flight carried a pilot and four passengers, including Republic Airways President Matt Koscal and Blade Air Mobility CEO Rob Wiesenthal. The flight, which lasted 45 minutes, transported the passengers from Long Island to JFK Airport, highlighting a quiet and emission-free journey.

Blade Air Mobility's CEO, Rob Wiesenthal, commented on the experience, emphasizing the growing reality of quiet, emission-free flights benefiting stakeholders and local residents. Wiesenthal expressed pride in demonstrating Blade’s commitment to commercializing electric aircraft.

BETA Technologies’ founder and CEO, Kyle Clark, also shared his excitement. He noted that flying the electric aircraft into one of the world's busiest airports with passengers onboard proves that advanced air mobility is no longer a distant concept but a current reality. Clark praised the rigorous safety testing that paved the way for this moment and emphasized the benefits of easing congestion, reducing emissions, and enhancing city accessibility.

The ALIA CTOL is notably the first advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft to receive a market survey certificate from the FAA, allowing BETA Technologies to conduct demonstration flights under specific safety guidelines as it advances towards full FAA certification for commercial operations.

Underscoring the burgeoning sector, fellow electric aircraft developer Archer also announced similar news this week, beginning demonstration flights with a pilot onboard, potentially setting the stage for commercial air taxi operations in the US by 2026.