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Beta Technologies’ electric plane will soon be delivering cargo in the United Arab Emirates. The United Arab Emirates has given the green light to United Parcel Service to begin testing cargo operations with electric aircraft within its borders.
The UAE Regulation Laboratory (RegLab) has granted UPS a provisional license to operate a cargo variant of the Beta electric aircraft as part of its efforts to “accelerate the transition to sustainable and environmentally friendly modes of transport,” according to a statement from the UAE government. and improve the sustainability of the Emirates air cargo industry. “
Vermont-based Beta has been developing its Alia-250 eVTOL The company has been servicing passenger and cargo aircraft since 2017 and just last week announced plans to certify a conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) version of the plane.When UPS starts shipping Beta’s vehicles in the UAE, it will use the CTOL model, called CX300before the introduction of eVTOL aircraft, which can take off and land vertically like a helicopter, but fly like a regular fixed-wing aircraft during cruise.
The Alia-250 has a cargo capacity of 1,400 pounds and a range of about 250 miles (400 kilometers), while the CX300 has a longer range because conventional aircraft have lower power requirements than eVTOL aircraft. During flight testing, the CTOL prototype flew 386 miles (621 kilometers) on a single charge. Both aircraft will be offered in a cargo configuration or as a six-passenger air taxi.
“Given the geographic location of the region, our payload and range-optimized design, and our charging infrastructure, the UAE sees a clear path to integrate this technology into the air cargo business through a phased approach,” said a Beta spokesperson. Tell future flight“Before gradually moving to eVTOL operations, we will start operating with electric fixed wings. Our goal is to start flying in 2024, and these will be operational flights carrying real revenue-generating cargo. The routes and timing of our flying will be approved by the General Civil Aviation bureau.”
Beta said it expects to receive FAA type certification for its new aircraft in 2025 and begin deliveries to customers later that year.The company has carried out extensive flight test A CTOL aircraft was originally advertised as a prototype for the Alia-250 eVTOL model. While the electric aircraft has logged more than 22,000 miles (35,400 kilometers) during flight tests, Beta’s other eVTOL-capable prototype has so far only conducted hover flight tests.
2021, UPS agrees to purchase As many as 150 of Beta’s Alia-250 eVTOL aircraft are used for its cargo operations. A Beta spokesman did not specify whether the earlier agreement included Beta’s newly announced CTOL aircraft product, or whether the two companies planned to sign a new agreement to purchase additional CX300s.
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