BETA Technologies completes first stage of its eIPP Multistate Collaborative flight test programme

Medical logistics flights advance in US electric aircraft programme

Image: Beta Technologies Medical logistics flights carrying manufactured organs have become the first missions to be completed under a new US programme testing how electric aircraft can operate alongside conventional aviation. Vermont-based electric aircraft developer Beta Technologies carried out the flights using its electric conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) aircraft as part of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) eVTOL Integrat…

eIPP's Initial flights TC data; legal construct to be tested

The eIPP has launched, as described below in Aero News’ report, what may be its first test. This is another innovative regulatory mechanism by the Administration. In lieu of engaging in extensive airworthiness proofs by the TC applicant, the eIPP is aptly described as a “ready, fire, aim” Tom Peters regulatory model: fly under OTA authority first, then use operational data to aim the future certification and operational rules. The origin and app…

BETA Technologies completes first stage of its eIPP Multistate Collaborative flight test programme

BETA Technologies and the Multistate Collaborative eIPP National Integration Complex have announced the completion of the first electric conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) aircraft flights conducted under the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP). The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the Virginia Department of Aviation, and the Maryland Aviation Administration have led the programme. “The inaugural campaign demonstrated routine operations across a multistate corridor connecting Virginia and Maryland,” said the company. “The flights covered approximately 275 nautical miles, flying between Virginia Tech/Montgomery Executive Airport (KBCB) in Blacksburg, Virginia; Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport (KCHO) in Charlottesville, Virginia; Frederick Municipal Airport (KFDK) in Frederick, Maryland; and Martin State Airport (KMTN) in Baltimore County, Maryland. This milestone comes just months after BETA was selected to participate in seven of the FAA’s eight eIPP launch programs, more than any other electric aircraft developer. BETA and United Therapeutics Corporation (Nasdaq: UTHR), a biotech company, have a partnership to develop and operate electric CTOL and vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft to deliver the manufactured organ products when they become commercially available, says Beta. The partnership aims to reduce the cost, increase the reliability, and lower the carbon footprint of large-scale organ delivery operations. United Therapeutic’s subsidiary, Unither Bioelectronics, led by Mikael Cardinal, has advised and partnered with BETA on technologies including autonomy, aircraft aerostructures, and the strategic deployment of charging infrastructure. “United Therapeutics contracted BETA to build an electric aircraft capable of delivering lifesaving cargo, and today we delivered on that agreement,” said Kyle Clark, founder and chief executive officer of BETA Technologies. “Our long-term partnership with United Therapeutics has shaped BETA and our mission to build the aircraft, infrastructure, and operational ecosystem. Since it began, we have safely flown our aircraft over 160,000 nautical miles and built charging infrastructure across 123 sites in the United States and Canada. Today’s successful missions, set the stage for routine medical applications through electric flight at a much lower cost nationwide.” For more information https://investors.beta.team/news-events/press-releases/detail/108/beta-technologies-and-multistate-collaborative-complete-first-operational-flights-of-the-u-s-dot-and-faas-evtol-integration-pilot-program (Image: BETA Technologies)