BETA picks up momentum in Florida as three new chargers come online
BETA hosted an event this week at Tallahassee International Airport to “recognise the momentum” being made towards AAM in Florida.
The electric aircraft and infrastructure developer has just brought electric chargers online at three partner airports: Tallahassee, Gainesville Regional Airport and Bob Sikes Airport.
BETA was joined at the commissioning event, held in partnership with Million Air, by representatives from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), Tallahassee City and United Therapeutics among others.
“As Florida’s aviation industry is experiencing tremendous growth to keep pace with our growing population and record-breaking number of tourists, FDOT is looking to the future as the national leader in AAM deployment, which will revolutionise how we efficiently move people and goods,” said FDOT secretary Jared Perdue.
“I’m grateful for the work of the AAM Advisory Committee who are working to guide our communities, attract manufacturers to Florida, and keep Florida on track to be the first state in the nation to adopt AAM as a part of our multi-modal transportation network,” he added.
The electrification of airports across Florida comes amid FDOT’s continued work on its Advanced Air Mobility Land Use Compatibility and Site Approval Guidebook.
Each site installation in Florida includes one Level 3 Fast-Charger located inside the fence (airside) for use by electric aircraft and electrified airport ground vehicles, and one Level 2 Charger located outside the fence (landside) for use by ground vehicles.
David Pollard, City of Tallahassee director of Aviation said: “Tallahassee International Airport plays a vital role in driving the local economy, generating an estimated $1bn annually. As TLH continues to expand its impact, we are excited to join the Florida Department of Transportation, BETA, and Million Air to introduce cutting-edge electric aircraft charging infrastructure at the airport.”
The three new chargers join a growing network of more than 30 along the east, west, and Gulf Coasts. The chargers have been purchased by numerous industry stakeholders including Archer Aviation, Atlantic Aviation, Signature Aviation, AvFlight and the US Department of Defense. BETA continues to bring additional site locations online – within and outside of Florida – in partnership with airports, FBOs and OEM partners across the country.
Blain Newton, BETA’s chief operations officer said: “Electric aviation presents a huge opportunity to transform the industry by making it more cost-effective, and growing a new job market. The reliability of electric aviation will be a game changer when it comes to things like providing access to healthcare and connecting communities across the state and beyond. We are grateful for FDOT’s support, and the partnership of airports like Tallahassee, Gainesville, and Bob Sikes in taking this step toward the future.”
