Electric aircraft developer BETA Technologies has opened a new engineering hub in Montreal with a focus on structural engineering and materials processing. (Photo: BETA)
BETA Technologies announced the opening of an engineering hub in Montreal, Canada, this week. Structural engineering and materials processing will take place at the new location. BETA is developing a fully electric aircraft, the ALIA, which is designed to perform short-haul and regional flights.
More than 50 employees based in Montreal will be working at the new engineering hub. Their focus is in the areas of advanced design, flight controls, data science, and flight sciences in support of the design, certification, and manufacturing of the ALIA eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft.
Kyle Clark, BETA’s Founder and CEO, explained that the company’s long-term plan has always included Montreal. “Electrifying aviation is a big and important problem to solve, and it’s going to take a lot of really smart people to get there,” Clark stated. “We have already added a highly skilled team to our ranks in Montreal, and we look forward to continuing to tap into the wealth of experience and talent in the region as we grow.”
Pictured above is BETA’s new office in Montreal. (Photo: BETA)
Jean Sebastien Leclerc, Aerostructures Engineering Lead at BETA, remarked on the news of the new office and Montreal’s reputation in the global aerospace ecosystem. “Our team members are excited to bring their experiences from recent OEM certification programs to this future-focused aviation technology,” said Leclerc. “Our connection to green energies and passion for aviation marries well into BETA’s mission to turn the corner on climate change.”
Alexandre Lagarde, Vice President of Foreign Investments, Montréal International, also commented on the announcement. “Greater Montréal has been a key player in the aerospace industry since its inception in the 1940s. Prominent projects such as BETA’s contribute to our local ecosystem and its work to decarbonize the industry,” Lagarde shared.
Last month, BETA and Blade Air Mobility completed the first test flight of a piloted eVTOL aircraft in the greater New York City area. During the test flight, the eVTOL flew alongside a conventional helicopter to demonstrate the difference in noise profiles.