Electric aerospace company BETA Technologies (“BETA” or “the Company”) is expanding internationally with the opening of an engineering hub in Montreal, Canada. Located in one of the aerospace capitals of the world, the Montreal office will focus on structural engineering and materials processing, playing an integral role in the ongoing development and certification of BETA’s all-electric aircraft.
BETA opens this new location with over 50 Montreal-based employees, and plans to significantly increase the team by year’s end as the Company advances toward certification. The team will primarily work on advanced design, flight-sciences, flight controls and data-science to support the design, certification, and manufacturing of the aircraft’s structure. A leader in the global market, the Canadian aerospace industry employed nearly 200,000 skilled professionals in 2021, and contributed more than $24 billion to the country’s overall GDP1. With the addition of this new hub, BETA has created an electrified corridor, establishing core operations and drawing from industry-leading talent pools in Vermont, New York, and Quebec. The Company also has footprints in Washington, D.C. and Springfield, OH.
“With its deep aerospace engineering pedigree, Montreal has always been part of BETA’s long-term plan,” said Kyle Clark, BETA’s Founder and CEO. “Electrifying aviation is a big and important problem to solve, and it’s going to take a lot of really smart people to get there. We have already added a highly skilled team to our ranks in Montreal, and we look forward to continuing to tap into the wealth of experience and talent in the region as we grow.”
“Montreal’s reputation in the global aerospace ecosystem and unique access to between technical colleges, universities, SMEs, and OEMs makes it an easy choice for Beta’s expansion,” said Jean Sebastien Leclerc, Aerostructures Engineering Lead at BETA. “Our team members are excited to bring their experiences from recent OEM certification programs to this future-focused aviation technology. Our connection to green energies and passion for aviation marries well into BETA’s mission to turn the corner on climate change.”
Flight Program Highlights
BETA is developing a fully integrated electric aviation system. At the heart of that system is ALIA, its net zero emission, all-electric aircraft designed to enable short-haul and regional operations for the Company’s diverse customer base. Over the past three years, the Company has demonstrated reliably strong performance with its two prototype aircraft, accomplishing significant milestones toward certification and commercialization.
In June 2022, BETA flew its prototype 2,000 nm from Plattsburgh, NY to Bentonville, AR and back – stopping along the way to recharge on the electric charging infrastructure the Company is building out in parallel with its aircraft. Late last year, BETA repeated the cross-country trip, flying 1,300 nm from Plattsburgh to Louisville, KY and back, again utilizing its own charging network to power up. The Company also had test pilots from the U.S. Air Force and Army fly ALIA in full-pattern demos in March 2022 and July 2022, respectively, marking the branches’ first-ever flight of an electric aircraft and the industry’s first manned qualitative evaluations. BETA also partnered with the FAA and the National Institute for Aviation Research to conduct the first-ever 50 ft drop test of a full-scale battery pack, successfully completing the test and advancing the industry’s path to safety standards and certification.
An Experienced Team
BETA’s passionate team has grown rapidly, surpassing 450 team members, with plans to continue expanding as the company progresses toward production and commercialization. BETA’s team brings deep passion, collective experience and a wide range of skill sets from some of the world’s leading aerospace, transportation, and technology organizations, including the FAA, Honeywell, Tesla, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls Royce, Boeing, Bombardier, and Bell Helicopter.
The Company takes a hands-on, multi-disciplinary approach to solving design challenges and driving innovation – in fact, every BETA employee is encouraged to become a licensed pilot and fly the Company’s versatile fleet to gain firsthand insight into aircraft design, performance, and operational considerations.
This story was prepared and distributed by Beta Technologies.
