COLUMBUS, Mississippi — On Feb. 12, 2024, BETA Technologies flew its all-electric ALIA aircraft into Golden Triangle Regional Airport, conducting the inaugural charge on a new airside charger.
Golden Triangle Regional Airport (KGTR) has partnered with BETA, an electric aerospace company based in Burlington, Vermont, and Avflight, a global FBO operator, to install the first-ever electric aviation charging station in the state of Mississippi.
BETA’s charging stations are capable of powering electric aircraft and ground vehicles alike, according to officials.
“The Golden Triangle Regional Airport is excited to announce the opening of Mississippi’s first electric aircraft charger,” says Executive Director Matt Dowell. “This new installation is a significant step toward advancing the airport and region’s aviation infrastructure and supporting the growth of electric aircraft technology.”
KGTR has installed one Level 3 Fast-Charger located inside the fence (air side), which will primarily be used by electric aircraft, and one Level 2 Charger located outside the fence (car side), which will primarily be used by members of the public who drive electric vehicles.
With this new infrastructure, the airport is “well-positioned to support the electric transportation future,” airport officials noted.
“As electric transportation continues to grow, and electric aviation specifically moves closer to market operations, charging infrastructure will only become more and more important,” said Nate Ward, BETA’s Head of Network Development. “We’re excited to have partners like Golden Triangle Regional and Avflight, whose foresight and innovative approach are leading the entire state of Mississippi forward. As we continue to deploy our chargers in key markets, and as the entire industry continues to grow, these chargers will help accelerate connectivity across the country.”
The new charge site in Mississippi is part of a growing national network of electric infrastructure that BETA is building out across the U.S. Over the past several months, BETA has commissioned five chargers in five states and has sold chargers to the Department of Defense, Atlantic Aviation, and Archer Aviation.
Currently, BETA has chargers online at 18 locations from Vermont to Arkansas, Alabama and Florida — with more than 55 additional sites in development, company officials said.
BETA is a company to watch in this space. They are active in conventional aviation with a large fleet of aircraft that they encourage their employees to learn to fly.
What a waste of money for a “flying” machine for which no market exists. I think I saw this contraption in that old Woody Allen film Sleeper?