BETA takes first customer through pilot training programme

BETA has taken its first cohort of customer flight operations staff through the full syllabus for its Alia CTOL aircraft.

The ALIA Pilot Training programme review saw a group of flight operations executives from Unither Bioelectronics (Unither), a subsidiary of United Therapeutics, undertake the three-part syllabus directed toward air ambulance operations.

The completion brings BETA closer to developing a commercially viable training product for its Part 135 customers. Reviewing the tailored curriculum ahead of aircraft delivery also readies Unither’s pilots.

The Unither team included their vice president of Program Management for Organ Delivery Systems and its operations team of helicopter and fixed wing pilots. Over the course of three days, BETA’s syllabus covered foundational academics, normal and emergency procedures and operational employment.

The training programme will require approval from the FAA through Unither’s Flight Standards District Office.

BETA’s three-stage curriculum review covered ground training requirements, familiarisation and operational employment of Alia CTOL for the customer’s mission.

• First, overviews of topics such as concept of operations, aerodynamics, manuals, limitations and requirements.
• Next, extensive systems academics focused on the novel technologies ALIA employs: electric propulsion, battery-electric stored energy and fly-by-wire flight controls.
• Then, practical ground school exercises: performance planning, preflight, and ground operations
• Finally, two flight events in the simulator: a fully-vetted IFR flight plan and a VFR mission on the routes Unither plans to operate once in service.

BETA has now trained more than eight company pilots to flight test Alia, as well as pilots from the FAA, US Air Force, US Army, UPS, United Therapeutics and Bristow. Enabling external pilots to complete qualitative evaluation flights in its Alia CTOL.

The Vermont-based firm also recently received authorisation from the FAA to begin VTOL powered-lift training to additional manufacturer and FAA personnel. BETA continues to progress both its CTOL and VTOL toward FAA certification, anticipating certification in 2025 and 2026, respectively.