Air New Zealand and 2 others have placed orders for a new electric 5-seater plane that can fly up to 386 miles meet Beta's CX300

The CX300 is an eCTOL, or a conventional takeoff and landing aircraft.Beta Technologies

• Vermont-based manufacturer Beta Technologies has announced orders for its electric aircraft, the CX300.
• The vehicle takes off and lands like a conventional airplane and flew 386 miles on a single charge.

Vermont-based manufacturer Beta Technologies is certifying another electric vehicle intended for commercial use — the CX300.

The CX300 is an eCTOL, or a conventional takeoff and landing aircraft.      Beta Technologies

Known as an eCTOL, the fixed-wing aircraft takes off and lands like a conventional plane and is powered by electric motors.

Beta Technologies

The CX300 is being developed alongside Beta's winged eVTOL called ALIA-250. Unlike its counterpart, ALIA takes off and lands vertically thanks to overhead propellers.

Both aircraft seat five passengers and one pilot.      BETA Technologies

But the propellers, which are absent on the CX300, are the main difference — the batteries, airframe, propulsion, and other systems are common across both.

Beta Technologies

In fact, CX300 started as Beta's prototype aircraft that operated in support of ALIA to collect data on conventional takeoffs and landings — not as a certified commercial vehicle.

The ALIA-250 inflight.      BETA Technologies

Take a closer look at the new helicopter-like electric aircraft that can transport 5 people across hundreds of miles

But, as the CX300 flew alongside ALIA, Beta saw increased customer demand for the product — and had people ask about its eCTOL, specifically. So, it decided to certify it, a process it hopes to complete by 2025.

Beta Technologies

Beta founder and CEO Kyle Clark told Insider there is a "clear path to certification" as the CX300 is a regular fixed-wing aircraft, meaning it can be certified under the FAA's already established rules for airplanes.

Beta Technologies

Its winged eVTOL, on the other hand, has a tougher road due to amended federal rules that have made the certification timeline uncertain, the company told Insider.

Blade CEO Rob Wiesenthal with ALIA-250. Blade has partnered with Beta to bring the ALIA-250 to market.      BETA Technologies

Because the eVTOL takes off vertically, it is considered a "powered-lift" aircraft. This makes pilot training requirements different from airplanes, adding more paperwork and time to ALIA's approval.

The cockpit of one of BETA Technology's EVAs.      BETA Technologies

Source: Vertical Magazine

"These regulations did not anticipate the need to train pilots to operate powered-lift, which take off in helicopter mode, transition into airplane mode for flying, and then transition back to helicopter mode for landing," an FAA spokesperson told Aviation Today.

The good news for Beta is that if and when the CX300 is certified, the company can reuse the same data and materials for ALIA (pictured) because of the similarities, Clark explained.      BETA Technologies

Source: Aviation Today

Over two years, the CX300 has flown 22,000 miles, has been evaluated by FAA and military test pilots, flew 386 miles on a single charge, and is the only electric aircraft to have operated in the US' busy class B and C airspace.

A plane landing at Louisville airport, which is in a class C airspace the CX300 has operated in.      Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images

When it hits the market, Clark told Insider the eCTOL is designed for short-haul medical, cargo, and passenger operations at a lower operational cost: "More than a third of all global flights today are actually less than 500 miles," he said.

The interior concept layout of the ALIA-250, which mirrors the CX300.      BETA Technologies

To demonstrate the savings, Clark said the cost to fly ALIA about 150 miles was $17 in electricity — the turbine plane that flew next to it cost Beta $700 worth of jet fuel.

BETA Technologies

To charge ALIA — as well as the CX300 — Beta uses charging cubes, which are available at nine "publicly accessible" power stations installed from Vermont to Arkansas.

An ALIA-250 electric vertical aircraft built by aerospace company BETA Technologies with charging cubes.      BETA Technologies

The company has another 55 currently under construction.

BETA Technologies' map of active and future charging locations.      BETA Technologies

Electric aircraft also significantly reduce noise, making them favorable for local transport, like Archer Aviation's planned eVTOL route from Downtown Manhattan to Newark Liberty International Airport.

In partnership with United Airlines, Archer Aviation's Midnight aircraft will take 10 minutes to fly the route, according to the company.      Archer Aviation

United Airlines is getting serious about electric flying taxis that ferry passengers to nearby airports. Take a look at the Archer Aviation 'Maker' prototype.

Beta has already secured orders for its CX300, including from Air New Zealand, helicopter operator Bristow, and United Therapeutics, which plans to use it to transport medical supplies and organs.

Air New Zealand 787.      Shutterstock

The Vermont manufacturer currently competes with other electric aircraft like Joby Aviation's five-seater eVTOL, which was ordered by Delta Air Lines in October 2022.

Joby Aviation's eVTOL.      Delta Air Lines

Delta just gave the clearest indication yet of how electric flying taxis will change the experience of flying with airlines