Aerospace Testing International reports, “Beta’s Alia electric aircraft flew a route between Stavanger and Bergen in Norway for the first time last week – the start of several months of flight tests looking to build knowledge about operating battery-electric aircraft before they are commercialised.” The three-phase flight campaign is expected to run until January 2026.
Full Story (Aerospace Testing International)
Tag: Norway
Beta Technologies’ CX300 Begins Test Flights in Norway
Flying Magazine reports, “Fresh off a multiweek European ‘Grand Tour’ comprising stops in Ireland, the U.K., France, Germany, Luxembourg, and Denmark, Beta Technologies’ all-electric CX300 is conducting its first test flights in Norway. The aircraft, tail number N214BT, was recently delivered to customer Bristow Group, whose pilots took it to the skies for the first time on Friday. The flight marks the start of a six-month series of evaluations within Norway’s international test arena for zero- and low-emission aviation.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)
Helicopter Group Bristow Set to Start Electric Aircraft Flights in Norway
Aviation International News reports, “Recently, Bristow’s Dave Stepanek outlined why the helicopter operator has made such a big commitment to buying urban air mobility (UAM) aircraft that have yet to be certified. As Bristow’s executive v-p and chief transformation officer, Stepanek is responsible not only for sourcing these aircraft but also figuring out how they fit into the company’s far-flung operations in 19 countries.”
Full Story (Aviation International News)
Beta Unveils Second Alia CX300 Electric Aircraft Bound for Flight Tests in Norway
Aviation International reports, “Beta Technologies has rolled out the second Alia CX300 electric aircraft from its scaled manufacturing facility in Burlington, Vermont, the company announced on March 4. Later this year, Beta will ship that aircraft off to Norway for a series of flight demonstrations to be conducted by helicopter operator Bristow Norway, a subsidiary of its partner and customer Bristow Group.”
Full Story (Aviation International News)
Norway Considers Grounding Sikorsky Helicopters After Fatal Crash
Reuters reports, “Norway on Thursday halted all helicopter traffic to its offshore oil and gas fields after a deadly crash, and said it was considering grounding Sikorsky’s S-92A aircraft model while investigating the accident.” During a search and rescue mission Wednesday, one occupant was killed and five others were injured when a “helicopter plunged into the ocean off western Norway … police and oil company officials said.”
Full Story (Reuters)
Norwegian Air Force F-35A JSF Demonstrates Ability to Takeoff, Land from Highway
The Drive reports that “Norway has become the first country to demonstrate the ability of the conventional takeoff and landing F-35A Joint Strike Fighter to operate from a highway as part of an exercise in Finland.” Maj. Gen. Rolf Folland, Chief of the Royal Norwegian Air Force, said in a press release, “This is a milestone, not only for the Norwegian Air Force, but also for the Nordic countries and for NATO. … This demonstrates our ability to execute a concept of dispersal. Fighter jets are vulnerable on the ground, so by being able to use small airfields – and now motorways – [we can] increase our survivability in war.” Norway’s F-35As “have been training to conduct highway operations in Finland this week as part of the latest iteration of that country’s annual Baana road base exercise, which kicked off on Monday.”
Full Story (The Drive)