BETA ALIA CTOL tests electric medical logistics in rural North Carolina

Metro Aviation and BETA Technologies have demonstrated an all-electric aircraft for potential medical and disaster-response missions through North Carolina’s eLIFT-NC advanced air mobility program.

A BETA ALIA conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) aircraft flew in September, giving ECU Health and its critical care transport provider, EastCare, an opportunity to assess how electric aviation could support healthcare logistics across the largely rural region.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation’s eLIFT-NC project forms part of the US Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP). In September, BETA completed 18 eIPP flights covering 1,336NM.

The ALIA transported a field medical station and supplies between communities, demonstrating a potential role for electric aircraft in connecting North Carolina’s Research Triangle and coast, particularly when conventional transport is disrupted.

Metro has operated aircraft for ECU Health’s EastCare program since 2013 and currently provides eight aircraft for its critical care transport operations.

“ECU Health has been part of the Metro family for more than a decade, and they understand better than most the challenges of delivering critical care across a large, rural service area,” said Todd Stanberry, Vice President of Metro Aviation.

ECU Health serves around 1.4 million people across 29 primarily rural counties. Its Chief Nursing Executive, Trish Baise, said the program could help “strengthen access, reduce geographic barriers, and help define what is possible for rural health care”.

Metro and BETA are evaluating how electric aviation could integrate with existing infrastructure. Metro has an order for up to 20 BETA ALIA VTOL aircraft.