The first test flights of the BETA ALIA conventional take off and landing (CTOL) cargo electric aircraft between Stavanger and Bergen in Norway are set for the third quarter of this year.
“In April last year, Avinor and the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority entered into a collaboration to establish Norway as an international test arena for zero- and low-emission aviation,” said Avinor in a press release. “On March 4, 2025, the first agreement for test flights, with aircraft manufacturer BETA Technologies and operator Bristow Norge, was signed at Bergen Airport, Flesland.”
The test flights will be flown by Bristow Norge. The cargo flights will operate between Stavanger Airport Sola and Bergen Airport, starting from Stavanger already this summer, while the entire route will be launched a little later in the autumn.
The aircraft has already received airworthiness certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for visual, instrument, day and night flight.
According to the press release, the Norwegian government’s goal in the National Aviation Strategy and the National Transport Plan 2025 – 2036 (NTP) is to accelerate the transition towards zero and low-emission aviation. To succeed in this, one billion kroner has been prioritized in the NTP. The first major measure is the establishment of Norway as an international test arena for zero and low-emission aircraft, says Minister of Transport Jon-Ivar Nygård.
“Through the test arena, Norway can help reduce barriers to testing and demonstration, and accelerate the transition to more sustainable aviation. Norway is well suited for testing, demonstration and later commercial use of zero- and low-emission aircraft….The goal of the test arena is to build knowledge, learn, and prepare the ecosystem and lay the foundation for scaling. This means involving airlines, manufacturers, the supply industry, the energy sector, and other stakeholders.”
Avinor’s role is to facilitate the infrastructure at airports and make airspace available to players who want to test various zero- and low-emission aircraft in an operational environment.
“We want more knowledge about what the different technologies and aircraft require in terms of airport facilities and the necessary energy supply needs,” said the company. “For example, we now have a procurement of fast chargers for electric aircraft for Bergen and Stavanger in the market to facilitate the first test flight, says Karianne Helland Strand, Executive Vice President for Sustainability, Concept and Infrastructure Development at Avinor.”
For more information
https://kommunikasjon.ntb.no/pressemelding/18443167/har-signert-forste-avtale-om-a-teste-el-fly-i-norge?publisherId=17421123&lang=no