Helicopter operator Bristow is continuing to expand into the advanced air mobility (AAM) market with plans to acquire as many as 55 Alia 250 eVTOL aircraft from Beta Technologies. The company announced on Tuesday that it has placed a firm order for five of Beta’s electrically powered aircraft, with options for 50 more.
“This order firmly positions Bristow as an early adopter and leader in pragmatically developing AAM operations and ushering in a new era in vertical-lift solutions,” said Bristow executive v-p and chief transformation officer Dave Stepanek.
Vermont-based Beta Technologies is developing the all-electric Alia 250 eVTOL for civilian and military uses. It can carry six people, including a pilot, or up to 1,400 pounds of cargo across distances of up to 250 miles, flying at a top speed of about 170 mph. The aircraft features four vertical lift propellers mounted on beams that run perpendicular to a 50-foot fixed wing, with an aft single pusher propeller.
Beta plans to have the Alia 250 certified and ready to start commercial operations in 2025.
