Beta, 47G unlock AAM opportunities in Utah
Statewide agreement is set to jump start a host of AAM readiness activities across Utah, further led by Beta’s CTOL and VTOL aircraft expertise.
Beta CX300 in flight. Source | Beta Technologies
(Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.) — the organization that merged with the Utah Advanced Materials Manufacturing Initiative (UAMMI) in May 2024 to create the 47G UAMMI Institute — and aircraft manufacturer (South Burlington, Vt., U.S.) have signed an agreement to bring electric aircraft and charging stations to Utah. The agreement represents a leap forward in establishing a well-functioning, statewide transportation system. Letters of support for the agreement were signed by the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) and the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO).
Through this partnership, the state of Utah, 47G and Beta will work on a host of advanced air mobility (AAM) readiness activities, from identifying priority routes for electric aircraft operations, such as Provo to Salt Lake City, to establishing ideal sites to deploy Beta’s multimodal electric charging infrastructure and outlining locations for future aircraft demonstrations and pilot training.
Utah has long been a hub for aerospace and defense activity, with the industry accounting for nearly 1,000 establishments and more than 30,000 jobs in the state. With this partnership, Utah is poised to continue growing its own aerospace and defense industry within the state — while establishing a position in the emerging AAM industry.
This agreement marks Utah’s first step in a broader strategy to launch scaled AAM operations across the state. Utah plans to take a step-wise approach, first implementing charging infrastructure, then integrating electric conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) operations, followed by electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) operations. With this approach, Utah plans to establish strong AAM operations across the state ahead of the 2034 Olympic Games.
Beta’s expertise will be contributed in the form of its Alia VTOL and CTOL aircraft, designed for regional and intracity transport. Both aircraft can carry up to 1,250 pounds or five passengers and a pilot, depending on configuration. In the past 5 years, Beta has flown its aircraft to more than 90 airports, completed U.S. Air Force deployments and achieved full, manned transition in a production-ready eVTOL. The company is also launching a nationwide, interoperable electric charging network, with 46 chargers currently online and 23 more in development.
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