Norway’s civil aviation authority has given the go-ahead for a campaign of demonstration flights of BETA’s CX300 all-electric aircraft later this year.
The demonstration flights with the CX300 eCTOL (conventional take-off and landing) aircraft will start in late summer and will carry cargo and no passengers. They will be flown by charter company Bristow initially between Stavanger Airport and Bergen Airport from late summer, with the entire route commencing later in the year.
An agreement between state-owned Norwegian airport operator Avinor, Norway’s Civil Aviation Authority, Beta Technologies, and Bristow was signed earlier this week at Bergen Airport, Flesland.
Partners aim to gain knowledge and prepare infrastructure for scaling up operations from the test flight program.
Karianne Helland Strand, executive vice president for sustainability and infrastructure development at Avinor said, “We seek more knowledge about what different technologies and aircraft require in terms of airport facilities and necessary energy supply needs. For example, we currently have a procurement process underway for fast chargers for electric aircraft in Bergen and Stavanger to accommodate the first test flight.”
Vermont, USA-based Beta was founded in 2017. The company is developing its fixed-wing Alia CX300 eCTOL (conventional take-off and landing) battery-electric aircraft and the Alia eVTOL.
The CX300 shares design elements, main systems and components with the Alia eVTOL, but without the rotors and with fixed-wing take-off and landing systems. The CX300 has a range of up to 386 miles (621km), compared to the Alia eVTOL’s 287 miles (460km).
Global aviation services company Bristow provides helicopter charter, mainly to offshore energy companies and government entities. Bristow has ordered up to 50 CX300s.
BETA recently completed the production build of the Alia aircraft that will perform the Norway demonstration flights. The aircraft has already received airworthiness certification for VFR, IFR, day and night flying from the FAA and is expected to enter-service this year.
“We see great value in real-world demonstrations, both to understand performance and mission fit, but also to bring local communities in what this technology offers,” said Patrick Buckles, Beta’s sales lead. “This year, as we operationalize this technology, we’re excited to showcase how its low-cost, high-reliability operations can serve markets all over the world, including Norway.”
A supplier of chargers will be selected for both Stavanger and Bergen, with a charger to be installed at Stavanger Airport by June 1. Bergen Airport will have a mobile charger, which is to be delivered by August 15.
