Vermont's Beta Tech in FAA air taxi program
Burlington-based Beta Technologies has been selected for FAA's air taxi pilot programs across 26 states, positioning Vermont at the forefront of next-gen aviation.
Beta Technologies will partner with Metro Aviation and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to conduct medical and cargo logistics flights between Vermont and New York. New York will act as the "lead state" for this project. Beta was selected for seven of the eight pilot programs, exceeding any other electric aircraft developer. These programs are expected to operate in at least 10 states. The company's stock rose over 10% following the announcement, reaching its highest close in over a month. The FAA pilot program was created to accelerate the approval process for electric aircraft. Beta expects to have its Alia CTOL aircraft certified by mid-2027 and the VTOL version by mid-2028. The company already has orders for 890 aircraft. Beta's participation will also help expand its electric aircraft charging network across the eastern United States. The company currently has over 50 charging sites online in the United States and Canada.
