U.S: BETA Technologies and Partner Bristow Showcase ALIA Flight to Over 100 People at Houma, Louisiana
BETA Technologies and aviation partner, Bristow, showcased an ALIA CTOL flight for over 100 people at Houma, Louisiana, reports a press release. Attendees consisted of local politicians, airport officials, customers and aeronautical experts.
ALIA made several passes over the Houma–Terrebonne airfield to demonstrate its capabilities and maneuverability. This is the first time an electric aircraft has come to the state of Louisiana. The focus was not just on innovation, but also testing electric propulsion for critical areas such as the Gulf of Mexico which is a major service region for Bristow.
After the demonstration ended, Chris Bradshaw, Bristow President and CEO, remarked, “These new technologies have the potential to make certain missions more efficient, quieter, accessible and sustainable. We view AAM as a natural extension of Bristow’s core competencies of safe and reliable vertical flight solutions and we see multiple avenues for Bristow to participate in the emerging AAM value chain.” Adding, “We believe aircraft like ALIA will play an important part in the future of aviation.”
Bradshaw’s remarks were followed by Kyle Clark, BETA’s Founder and CEO. He commented, “Today, we’re excited to fly ALIA into Bristow’s home base in Louisiana, marking the first time an electric aircraft has flown in the state and the next step of our partnership as we look to execute real missions in the market.”
He continued, “We designed ALIA with the goal of carrying out the most critical missions in a safer, cleaner, more efficient manner and Bristow has built a strong reputation doing this across the globe. The team has been a crucial partner to BETA over the years, providing input and support every step of the way.”

(l to r) Kyle Clark, Dave Stepanek, Chris Bradshaw
The two companies have enjoyed a successful partnership since 2021. Bristow is leveraging its more than 75 years of experience to help make Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) operations a reality.
In August 2022, Bristow ordered five Beta ALIA aircraft with an option to purchase an additional 50 units. Then, after BETA announced its plans to certify an electric conventional takeoff and landing plane (eCTOL), Bristow placed an additional deposit-backed purchase for up to 50 such craft.
Dave Stepanek, Bristow’s Executive VP and Chief Transformation Officer, later said, “We believe aircraft like ALIA can expand our offerings and complement current services. The thinking is our present customers are natural AAM consumers. We believe this partnership will open up many new possibilities especially in the Gulf region.”
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(Images: BETA Technologies)
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