On Feb. 7, Houston-based helicopter operator Bristow and Vermont aerospace company Beta Technologies hosted an electric vehicle flight demonstration in Houma, La. More than 100 local officials, Bristow customers and others watched Beta’s ALIA eCTOL aircraft in action. The companies, which have been partnered since 2021, said this is the first time an electric aircraft has come to the state of Louisiana.
“We believe aircraft like Beta’s ALIA will play an important part in the future of aviation. These new technologies have the potential to make certain missions more efficient, quieter, more accessible and more sustainable,” said Chris Bradshaw, Bristow’s president and CEO in a statement. “We view advanced air mobility as a natural extension of Bristow’s core competencies of safe and reliable vertical flight solutions, and we see multiple avenues for Bristow to participate in the emerging AAM value chain.”
Bristow provides aviation services to offshore energy companies and government entities in 17 countries. It operates several outposts in Louisiana and Texas that serve companies operating in the Gulf of Mexico. Areas of focus include personnel transportation, search and rescue, medevac, fixed-wing transportation, unmanned systems, and ad hoc helicopter services.
Beta was founded by Kyle Clark in 2017. The company is developing electric vertical take off and landing (eVTOL) and electric conventional take-off and landing (eCTOL) aircraft for a variety of uses. The company has also developed a network of chargers to supply power to their aircraft and other electric vehicles.
Bristow has ordered five Beta ALIA eVTOL aircraft as it plans to add electric and sustainable aviation to its offerings.
