Atlantic Aviation has initiated the installation of electric charging stations at its Fixed Base Operations (FBOs) in collaboration with aircraft manufacturer Beta Technologies. The first charging station has been deployed at Atlantic's facility at Elmira Regional Airport in upstate New York. Additionally, plans are underway to install the equipment at Birmingham International Airport in Alabama, Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport in Mississippi, and Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport in Massachusetts.
Beta Technologies, known for developing both electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) and fixed-wing versions of its Alia airplane, has designed "technology agnostic" charging stations capable of accommodating various aircraft types and electric ground vehicles. The Vermont-based company has already installed chargers at 17 locations across the U.S., with an additional 55 sites in the permitting or construction process.
The existing Beta charging network spans from Vermont to Arkansas and Florida, with installations at key locations, including Eglin Air Force Base, where an Alia prototype has been deployed as part of U.S. Air Force trials. Beta has conducted extensive flights across the U.S. to evaluate the practicalities of charging the Alia's batteries between trips.
Atlantic Aviation's extensive FBO network, comprising over 100 locations across North America, aims to leverage its "host site agreements" with Beta to establish the infrastructure required to support upcoming advanced air mobility services. The collaboration seeks to reduce operating costs for short flights and minimize carbon emissions.
Nate Ward, Beta's Head of Charge Network Development, expressed alignment with Atlantic's innovative approach and market understanding, emphasizing the joint mission to deploy a reliable, well-distributed network of fast chargers for the entire advanced air mobility industry.
The announcement by Atlantic Aviation and Beta follows a similar move by eVTOL aircraft developer Joby, which recently revealed the installation of interoperable charging equipment at Clay Lacy Aviation's FBO at John Wayne Airport in Southern California. This initiative marks the first step in creating a network of chargers to support anticipated eVTOL air taxi services throughout the Los Angeles metropolitan area.