FAA authorises BETA for dual seat eVTOL training

The FAA has granted BETA Technologies a Letter of Authorization (LOA) to begin dual seat training of pilots in its A250 eVTOL. 

With this LOA, BETA’s current roster of eight powered lift test pilots are now authorised to provide A250 crew training to company and FAA personnel. BETA’s flight test pilots will now prepare to begin for-credit flight testing and training the FAA aviation safety inspector and other FAA personnel who will oversee certification. 

It will also allow the company to continue to refine and validate the safety and efficacy of its eVTOL training programme. Additionally, BETA says it is working on a standalone simulator product that aims to meet FAA requirements for a qualified training device.

To grant this authorisation, the FAA conducted an extensive review of the ground, simulation and flight training procedures BETA uses to train its eight test pilots. The Vermont-based company says the authorisation is “a strong vote of confidence” from the FAA in BETA’s approach to training.

The LOA comes on the heels of BETA flying successful crewed transitions with its eVTOL with multiple pilots. It has also led pilots from the FAA, US Air Force, US Army, UPS, United Therapeutics and Bristow through ground school academics, simulator rehearsal and qualitative evaluation flights in its CTOL variant.