Electric aircraft manufacturer Beta Technologies sets up shop in Montreal
Another manufacturer in the electric aviation sector is opening a branch in Quebec. The American company Beta Technologies officially announced on Wednesday the opening of an engineering centre in Montreal.
The centre already has about 50 employees. The Montreal team will play a role in the development and certification of Beta's ALIA aircraft. The all-electric aircraft is designed to fly short distances.
In June 2022, Beta's prototype made a 2,000 nautical mile round trip flight from Plattsburgh, New York to Bentonville, Arkansas. The aircraft stopped en route to be recharged using the infrastructure the company is developing in parallel.
The Vermont-based startup, founded in 2017, counts Amazon among its shareholders. In 2021, it signed a major contract with courier UPS for an order of up to 150 devices. At the time of signing, the first 10 aircraft were to be delivered in 2024.
Beta is not the only American company in the electric aviation sector to have its sights set on Quebec.
Texas-based Jaunt Air Mobility is developing an electric aircraft capable of vertical take-off and landing. The company, which is attracting interest in a potential flying taxi service in the Montreal area, has operations in Quebec.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on March 8, 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What is flagpoling? A new ban on the practice is starting to take effect
Immigration measures announced as part of Canada's border response to president-elect Donald Trump's 25 per cent tariff threat are starting to be implemented, beginning with a ban on what's known as 'flagpoling.'
Hong Kong police issue arrest warrants and bounties for six activists including two Canadians
Hong Kong police on Tuesday announced a fresh round of arrest warrants for six activists based overseas, with bounties set at $1 million Hong Kong dollars for information leading to their arrests.
Indigenous family faced discrimination in North Bay, Ont., when they were kicked off transit bus
Ontario's Human Rights Tribunal has awarded members of an Indigenous family in North Bay $15,000 each after it ruled they were victims of discrimination.
Heavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flights
American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide Tuesday because of a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive.
OPP and Ottawa firefighters help remove vehicle wedged into Highway 417 overpass
Ottawa firefighters and local Ontario Provincial Police officers were called to a bizarre scene Tuesday morning along Highway 417, where a driver managed to wedge his vehicle under an overpass.
On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis appeals for courage to better the world
Pope Francis said the story of Jesus' birth as a poor carpenter's son should instill hope that all people can make an impact on the world, as the pontiff on Tuesday led the world's Roman Catholics into Christmas.
Read Trudeau's Christmas message
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued his Christmas message on Tuesday. Here is his message in full.
Ontario First Nation challenging selection of underground nuclear waste site in court
A First Nation in northern Ontario is challenging the selection of a nearby region as the site of a deep geological repository that will hold Canada's nuclear waste, arguing in a court filing that it should have had a say in the matter as the site falls "squarely" within its territory.
Dismiss Trump taunts, expert says after 'churlish' social media posts about Canada
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump and those in his corner continue to send out strong messages about Canada.