COX, BETA TECHNOLOGIES & 47G INK MOU
Beck Ginos
Davis Journal
Air taxi transportation in Utah is one step closer to reality as Gov. Spencer J. Cox recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with electric aircraft and charging manufacturer BETA Technologies and 47G, the association representing the state’s aerospace and defense industries. The signing paves the way for creating a system that gives Utahns mobility options while reducing commute times and improving air quality.
“This agreement represents a significant step toward bringing electric aircraft and charging stations to our state,” said Ryan Starks, the executive director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity. “This expands mobility options for all Utahns by advancing air transportation systems. We’re laying the foundation for reduced commute times, improved access across communities and cleaner air through sustainable solutions.”
Utah has the best economy in the United States, Starks said. “That’s what’s going to keep us strong for years to come, and that’s looking around the corner for the next five years, the next 10 years. What do we see? We see the electrification of aircraft.”
“I guess it’s been almost 10 years ago, we were sitting down with members of UDOT,” said Cox. “Carlos (Braceras), the executive director of UDOT, and we were having a conversation about the future of transportation in Utah and what that future would look like.”
He said they can’t keep building roads sideways, Cox said. “We’ll continue to invest in mass transit options, but we have to start thinking about going vertical. I kind of chuckled and I’m like, ‘Sure, yeah.’”
Cox said that’s when they got serious about advanced air mobility and what that future looks like, starting with cargo and eventually moving people, “We started working with the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity. Of course, 47G came about and we started having conversations with people in the industry, and here we are with BETA, an incredible company from Vermont, who is doing a lot of their work in Utah.”
Utah has an incredible opportunity coming up in 2034 to welcome the world as the Olympics make their return, Cox said. “We can’t wait. Over the next nine years, we’re going to see a lot of changes, technological changes in this country and the world. I can’t wait to show them our advanced air mobility opportunities. I truly believe we can get there. We’ll be transporting people vertically, which will make it easier for us to get from Point A to Point B.”
“BETA was a dream I had,” said BETA Technologies CEO and founder Kyle Clark. “It was actually my senior thesis and project about 22 years ago in college. In 2017, I finally got the opportunity to start designing commercial aircraft for advanced air mobility.”
The aircraft is fundamentally a cost-savings tool, said Clark. “It costs about half to move a package a mile than it does with a turbine engine aircraft. It starts with us moving packages, moving medical supplies, moving things for the military, then moving passengers.”
What’s super-exciting is seeing a state, the state of Utah, stepping up, seeing this trend coming, he said. “I’m lucky enough actually to be one of two pilots in the world who has flown full-transition electric on eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft.”
“Unlike any other point in our world’s history, we have more innovation and adoption taking place in this industry that will revolutionize and change the way we live,” said Starks. “It’s all happening right now. There is a lot of momentum. With this MOU signing, we are going where no other state has gone before. We’re going to electrify airports. We’re going to bring the community together. There will be workforce development opportunities.”
Imagine being in Moab in 40 minutes, he said. “Imagine living in Huntsville or Logan and being able to fly to Salt Lake in 16 minutes. That’s the reality and it’s here.”