Helijet to acquire BETA’s ALIA eVTOL
The aircraft will be integrated into Helijet’s existing cargo, passenger, and air medical helicopter networks
Helijet International, a British Columbia-based aviation services provider, will integrate BETA Technologies’ ALIA electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft into its fleet.
The eVTOLs will be integrated into Helijet’s existing helicopter network serving southwestern British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest, conducting both passenger and cargo services.
Additionally, the company has stated that the eVTOL has the ‘potential to enhance Helijet’s provision of emergency response, air ambulance, and organ transfer services in the Lower Mainland, as well as support rural and remote communities’.
The agreement makes Helijet BETA’s first commercial customer in Canada. The decision by Helijet is in part due to BETA’s intention to certify the aircraft for instrument flight rules (IFR) operations in the country.
“We are proud to partner with BETA Technologies, who are leaders in the advanced air mobility space,” said Danny Sitnam, President and CEO of Helijet. “We are committed to introducing and integrating zero-emission, vertical lift technologies and related ground/building infrastructure in the communities we serve, and look forward to transforming our current heliport infrastructure to meet future urban air mobility vertiport standards.”
Germany’s ADAC Luftrettung air ambulance service will trial the use of Volocopter eVTOLs from next year.
Oliver Cuenca
Oliver Cuenca is a Junior Editor at AirMed&Rescue. He was previously a News and Features Journalist for the rail magazine IRJ until 2021, and studied MA Magazine Journalism at Cardiff University. His favourite helicopter is the AW169 – the workhorse of the UK air ambulance sector! He also led the creation of Waypoint: The AirMed&Rescue podcast, serving as its Production Editor and co-host.