Becky Ginos
The City Journals
Taking an air taxi to work seems pretty futuristic, but BETA Technologies traveled to six different airports around the state last week to demonstrate Utah’s first air taxi.
This comes shortly after 47G Utah Aerospace & Defense signed an MOU with BETA, an electric aerospace company. The agreement is supported by the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOED) and the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT).
The demonstrations gave the public a firsthand look at the ALIA aircraft. This new form of air transportation strengthens the state’s role as a leader in advanced air mobility (AAM). The electric, next-generation ALIA aircraft can seamlessly, safely and economically move people and packages, said a 47G release.
The AAM paves the way for creating a system that gives Utahns mobility options while reducing commute times and improving air quality.
“The aircraft is fundamentally a cost-savings tool," said BETA Technologies CEO & Founder Kyle Clark at the MOU signing. “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.”
He said Utah has demonstrated forward-thinking leadership and a strong commitment to investing in advanced air mobility.
“Utah is way ahead of the game making the right investments early and providing the necessary support to stand up an air mobility ecosystem that can drive real impact,” Clark said. “This week’s flights will demonstrate the benefits of this low-cost, quiet and safe mode of transport for the state of Utah and beyond.”
The ALIA aircraft can transport up to five passengers or 1,250 pounds of cargo. In addition, BETA’s Charge Cubes use the industry standard approved by most air taxi manufacturers around the globe.
Ground vehicles can also use the Charge Cubes, meeting the needs of both air transportation and vehicles on the ground.
Utah has become the fastest-growing state in the country, with 90% of Utahns within a 30-minute drive to an airport. This partnership with the state gives Utahns mobility options to keep them moving.
“We move people – and the things they need – using more than just roads,” said Carlos Braceras, UDOT executive director. “These demonstrations are more than just a technology showcase – they represent a fundamental shift in how we think about mobility. As Utah's population grows and we face increasing demands on our ground transportation system, we know that advanced air mobility offers innovative new solutions to address our evolving mobility needs.”
Utah has an incredible opportunity coming up in 2034 to welcome the world as the Olympics make its return, said Gov. Spencer Cox at the MOU signing.
“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,” he said. “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.”
The Air Logistics Transportation Alliance (Project Alta) was created last year by business and state leaders as a collaborative partnership to establish an AAM system for Utah, projecting four main phases of AAM integration by the 2034 Winter Olympic Games, according to the release.
“By integrating cutting-edge electric aircraft into our mobility ecosystem, we are ensuring the highest standards of safety, advancing medical response capabilities and driving technological innovation that will create lasting benefits for communities across the state,” said Chris Metts, 47G Project Alta executive director. “Utah is attracting investment, accelerating the development of critical infrastructure and enabling the deployment of aircraft that make our transportation system safe and truly multimodal.”
For more information about BETA Technologies, visit beta.team.