BETA Technologies has secured a first-of-its-kind authorisation from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to carry prospective customers aboard its electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft. Issued following a safety review, the Special Airworthiness Certificate for market surveys permits demonstrations of the ALIA A250 to potential operators and other participants. It also extends the geographical scope of BETA’s operations, subject to applicable restrictions. However, it does not constitute full type certification or authorise unrestricted commercial passenger services.
The company completed its first flight under the authorisation on 20 October, covering 34 nautical miles, equivalent to 39 miles, in 20 minutes. Departing Plattsburgh International Airport in New York, the A250 rose vertically before transitioning to wing-borne flight, then landed vertically at Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport in Vermont. Designed for operation with or without runway access, it can accommodate up to five passengers or more than 1,200 pounds of cargo. Potential applications include passenger transport, freight delivery, medical services and defence operations.
The A250 shares electric propulsion, flight-control computers, batteries and charging infrastructure with BETA’s conventional take-off and landing aircraft. According to the company, this common architecture enables operational lessons and technical improvements to be applied across both designs, which together have accumulated more than 250,000 nautical miles of flight experience. BETA previously obtained market-survey authorisation for its conventional aircraft and completed its first crewed electric vertical-flight transition in 2024. Flight testing continues as the company pursues the full FAA certification required for routine commercial operations.
