Flying Electric - Is Beta Technologies the Next Big Thing?
Image Credit: Beta Technologies.
Paris Auto Show 2025 has delivered another delightful piece of news from the world of electric flight. Aerospace whiz-kids Beta Technologies have just inked a chummy little Memorandum of Understanding with Republic Airways Holdings. It turns out that Republic is going to be taking a long, hard look at Beta's all-electric ALIA CTOL aircraft for the regional passenger and cargo hops.
Republic Airways is based in Indianapolis and usually spends its days ferrying folks for the big boys like American, Delta, and United. It's quite the turn-up for the books that they're dipping their toes into the electrifying waters of eVTOL and eCTOL travel. It seems this "advanced air mobility" thing is becoming a genuine "travel option" as companies like Beta Technologies inch ever closer to certification. I say "inch" because, as we all know, getting anything certified in the aerospace world moves at the speed of a sloth trying to cross a glacier.
Image Credit: Beta Technologies.
Beta Technologies actually flew their ALIA CTOL (that's "Conventional Takeoff and Landing," for those of us who prefer our planes to take off like planes) into New York City with actual passengers. And lo and behold, one of those brave souls was none other than Matt Koscal, Republic Airways' President and Chief Commercial Officer. One can only imagine the conversation: "So, Mr. Koscal, fancy a quick, silent, and entirely electric jaunt into the Big Apple? Just don't mention the 'range anxiety' to the pilot, eh?"
He must have been utterly captivated, because now we have this new agreement. Apparently, later this year, Republic Air's wholly-owned subsidiary, Brickyard Connection, LLC, will get its hands on a "pre-certified" ALIA CTOL.
Image Credit: Beta Technologies.
What exactly will Brickyard Connection and Beta be doing with this rather intriguing electric bird? They'll be "assessing the aircraft's performance, operational economics, infrastructure requirements, and overall viability for regional passenger and cargo flights." Which, translated from corporate speak, means they'll be flying it around, counting pennies, figuring out where to plug it in, and generally trying to work out if it's more than just a very expensive, battery-powered paper airplane.
This new agreement apparently "builds upon an existing relationship" – obviously, Mr. Koscal had a rather good time on his little joyride. He even chimed in, saying, "We're excited by the opportunities Advanced Air Mobility technologies represent for regional connectivity, and BETA's innovative approach to electric flight aligns with our vision." Right. And I'm excited by the opportunity to finally have a car that cleans itself and makes me a cup of tea. Vision, indeed!
Image Credit: Beta Technologies.
The ALIA CTOL itself has a wingspan of 50 feet. That's about the length of a decent-sized bowling alley, for reference. It's designed to carry five passengers plus the pilot or, if you're feeling a bit more utilitarian, about 1,250 pounds of cargo in a rather respectable 200 cubic feet of space. You could probably fit a large sofa in there, or a small herd of well-behaved miniature ponies.
As for power, the ALIA CTOL is propelled by a single H500A electric motor, driving a 5-blade fixed-pitch propeller. It's got a maximum speed of 153 knots, which, for those of us who speak in miles per hour, is roughly 176 mph. Not exactly supersonic, but neither is your average regional propeller plane. And the range? An impressive 336 nautical miles, which translates to about 387 miles on a single charge. That's enough to get you from Indianapolis to Nashville without having to make an awkward pit stop in a cornfield.
Image Credit: Beta Technologies.
Charging is where Beta Technologies truly shines. The company developed "Charge Cube" technology, which is a system that can juice up the ALIA CTOL in under an hour. And the best part? Beta is already rolling out a "network of charge infrastructure that utilizes an industry standard compatible with other air taxi manufacturers and ground vehicles." You see? It's not just for their toys; it's for everyone! A veritable universal charging station for the skies.
Beta Technologies claims it costs $18 per hour in electricity to fly the ALIA CTOL, which makes a Cessna 208's $347 an hour in jet fuel look like an extravagant shopping spree at a luxury car dealership. And, of course, 75% fewer emissions. You can finally feel good about your low-carbon footprint while you're whizzing past the clouds.
Image Credit: Beta Technologies.
Republic and Beta also plan to explore deploying Beta's charging technology at existing and future locations. Republic Air and Brickyard Connection are expected to get their hands on this electric marvel sometime in late 2025. Just in time for Christmas… We can only hope Santa's sleigh gets a similar electric upgrade.
The future of regional air travel will possibly be brought to you by a company called Beta, evaluated by a company called Republic, and powered by a "Charge Cube." It's all very exciting, very green, and possibly very, very quiet. No more rumbling prop planes waking up the chickens at 5 AM. Only the gentle hum of electric progress. I don't know about you, but I am ready to see if this electric dream truly takes flight, or if it's just another splendid idea that eventually gets grounded by the harsh realities of physics and spreadsheets.
