First-of-its-kind authorization for an electric VTOL follows BETA’s earlier CTOL approval and reflects the operational and safety record BETA has built across both aircraft which have flown more than 250,000 nautical miles combined
BETA Technologies, an aerospace and defense company, announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded its ALIA VTOL (A250) aircraft a Special Airworthiness Certificate for market surveys, marking the first such authorization granted to an electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft.
BETA’s A250 is an all-electric VTOL aircraft designed to operate from locations with or without runway access. Built with a simple, efficient design, the VTOL delivers lower operating costs, higher reliability, and industry-leading range and payload. The VTOL shares a common architecture and core technology foundation with BETA’s ALIA CTOL aircraft; the same propulsion systems, flight control computers, batteries and charging systems, allowing flight experience, manufacturing investment, and operational learning to support both platforms. This stable configuration and simplicity of design across CTOL and VTOL align with the FAA’s standards of safety.
The aircraft has dual pilot controls and is designed to be able to carry up to five passengers and more than 1,200 pounds of cargo, supporting missions across cargo and logistics, medical transportation, defense, and passenger operations.
The authorization, issued under Part 21 of the FAA’s regulations, enables BETA to conduct flights with operators and key stakeholders, allowing them to experience the A250’s capabilities firsthand and building the confidence and familiarity that drive market adoption. The approval also expands the geographic scope of BETA’s operations, providing greater flexibility to demonstrate the capabilities of electric vertical flight across a wider range of operating conditions, subject to applicable FAA limitations.
BETA’s A250 completed its first flight under the new authorization on October 20, 2026. In its first flight under the market survey authorization, the ALIA VTOL took off vertically from Plattsburgh International Airport (PBG) in New York, transitioned to wing borne flight and landed vertically at Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport (BTV) in Vermont, covering 34 nautical miles in 20 minutes. As it works toward full type certification and commercial operations, BETA continues to expand real-world flight operations, build relationships and validate its technology across a growing range of applications.