Vermont-based advanced air mobility developer BETA Technologies has received an order for 20 ALIA-250 electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft from Metro Aviation, a provider of emergency air services.
Based in Louisiana, Metro Aviation is a private, family-owned business which operates a fleet of 170 aircraft providing emergency and medical services throughout the United States.
In a press release announcing the order, the firm stated that it had evaluated a number of eVTOL options and had opted for the ALIA as it considered BETA Technologies to have the most suitable product for its operations but also highlighted the manufacturer’s willingness to adapt to its requirements.
BETA Technologies CEO Kyle Clark underlined the fact that the ALIA eVTOL had originally been conceived to provide medical services, so the order can be seen as a vindication of that original vision.
Interestingly, the order is for the eVTOL version of the ALIA, which has a longer development timeframe than its conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) aircraft.
BETA Technologies, which closed an additional $318 million Series C funding round in October 2024, aims to launch the CVTOL version of its aircraft first. This is because there is a lower development risk and faces a more straightforward path to certification.