Bristow Group has placed a firm order for five electrically powered vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) ALIA-250 aircraft manufactured by BETA Technologies.
The eVTOL aircraft will provide vertical flight solutions for offshore energy companies and search and rescue services.
The ALIA has a 50-foot wingspan and a carbon-fibre body. It will have a maximum range of 250 nautical miles and is designed to carry 1,400lbs of payload or can carry six people including a pilot.
Bristow Executive Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer Dave Stepanek said:This order firmly positions Bristow as an early adopter and leader in pragmatically developing advanced air mobility operations and ushering in a new era in vertical lift solutions. By leveraging our 70+ years of expertise as a leader in vertical lift, we plan to use the BETA ALIA to safely and reliably move passengers and time-sensitive cargo as part of the development of new regional mobility networks in the US and other strategic locations.
The ALLIA’s battery will be charged in under an hour using BETA charging infrastructure, which can be deployed as a standalone fixture for airport operations or integrated into a charging pad for off-airport applications.
Kyle Clark, Founder and CEO of BETA said:We designed ALIA with reliability, efficiency, and the highest-value cargo in mind, all of which are central to the types of critical missions Bristow carries out on a global stage. Over the past few months, we've made strides with our flight test programme, proving the aircraft is capable of performing in conditions it will see in service. We are gratified by Bristow's confidence in our continued progress, and we look forward to partnering to provide a safe and sustainable system to transform regional transportation.
As part of this contract, Bristow will also have the option to purchase an additional 50 ALIA aircraft in the future.
