Beta’s Alia electric aircraft flew a route between Stavanger and Bergen in Norway for the first time last week – the start of several months of flight tests looking to build knowledge about operating battery-electric aircraft before they are commercialised.
The test route, which is being operated by the Bristow Group will be flown regularly throughout the autumn. The Alia is configured to carry cargo not passengers for the tests, and the cargo will not be real.
The aircraft took off from Stavanger Airport at 1100 am on September 4 and spent a total of 55 minutes on the flight to Bergen.
Vermont, USA-based Beta was founded in 2017. The company is developing the fixed-wing baterry-electric Alia CX300 eCTOL (conventional take-off and landing) battery-electric aircraft and the Alia eVTOL (electric Vertical Take Off and Landing.
The Alia shares design elements, main systems and components with the Alia eVTOL, but does not feature the rotors and fixed-wing take-off and landing systems.
The battery-electric Alia has a maximum range of 400 km – the distance between Stavanger and Bergen is 160 km. It is designed for operations with one pilot and has a total load capacity of 562 kg (1,262lbs), and flies at a speed of up to 270 km/h (168mph).
“The route between Stavanger and Bergen is one of the most used in today’s traditional airline operations,” says Dave Stepanek, executive vice president of transformation at Bristow. “The route forms a key component of the test arena, and simulating a cargo mission here is an important and symbolic first step.
“This marks the start of several months of collecting critical data that will play a central role in shaping future flight operations.”
“We are very pleased that flights between Stavanger and Bergen have now started, says Shawn Hall, commercial director at BETA Technologies. “This phase is crucial to collecting valuable data needed to understand how electric aircraft can operate effectively in this unique landscape. It is exciting that this partnership, and our aircraft, can play a key role in shaping the future of regional air mobility.”
Test flight phases
The Alia test flight campaign is taking place in three phases, until January 2026. The first flight was conducted from Stavanger on August 8.
The first phase, with takeoffs and landings in Stavanger, consisted of visual flights and operational familiarization of the aircraft for pilots and personnel on the ground and in the tower.
Phase two is focused on operational maturation while flying the entire route between Stavanger and Bergen. In the third phase, the aircraft will operate on instruments.
Norwegian state-owned airports group Avinor and the country’s Civil Aviation Authority have set up an international test arena for zero-emission aircraft. The purpose of the test arena is to create and share knowledge and learning, as well as gain operational experience by testing in real operational environments.
“We are very pleased that the test flights between Stavanger and Bergen are now fully underway. It is an important milestone for Norway as an international test arena, and will give us useful insight into operational conditions both on the ground and in the air,” says Karianne Helland Strand, executive vice president for sustainability and infrastructure at Avinor.
