Alaskan cargo carrier Ryan Air has ordered Beta Technologies’ Alia electric aircraft and plans to install up to 10 charging stations as it looks to electrify deliveries to remote communities, the companies said on Thursday.
Ryan Air, which serves more than 70 rural communities in Alaska, said it will deploy the Alia CTOL (conventional take-off and landing) to transport food, medicine and other essential goods to regions that cannot be reached by road.
The Alia aircraft is designed to carry 1,250 pounds of cargo and operate under instrument flight rules in icing conditions. It has a wingspan of 50 feet, a range of 336 nautical miles (622 km), a top speed of 153 knots (285 kph), and can recharge to 98% in under an hour, according to Beta Technologies.
Ryan Air said it will roll out Beta’s Charge Cube stations at key sites. The units integrate energy storage and can be used not only for Beta aircraft but also for other electric planes and ground vehicles, helping to reduce strain on rural grids that often rely on diesel.
Vermont-based Beta Technologies produces all-electric vertical take-off and landing and conventional aircraft, with operations extending to Europe in countries such as Norway and Denmark.
