Bristow signs order for BETA Technologies ALIA-250 eVTOL

Bristow will also have the option to purchase an additional 50 ALIA aircraft.

The ALIA will have a maximum range of 250 nautical miles and is designed to carry 1,400lb (635kg) of payload, or can carry six people including a pilot. With a 50-foot (15m) wingspan and a carbon-fiber fuselage, the aircraft uses a single distributed direct-electric propulsion system and has four horizontally mounted rotors that provide vertical lift and a single propeller in the rear to propel the aircraft forward.

“This order firmly positions Bristow as an early adopter and leader in pragmatically developing AAM operations and ushering in a new era in vertical lift solutions,” said Bristow Executive Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer Dave Stepanek.

“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,” added Kyle Clark, Founder and CEO of BETA. “Over the past few months, we’ve made strides with our flight test program, 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.”

The battery will be charged in under an hour using BETA’s own charging infrastructure, which can be deployed as a standalone fixture to enable airport operations or integrated into a charging pad for off-airport applications.

Bristow also recently completed its takeover of British International Helicopter Services (BIH) on 2 August.