Federal officials are taking the next step to bring electric aircraft to our skies.
The FAA has issued a first-of-its-kind airworthiness certificate to BETA Technologies, clearing the way for the company to conduct flights with its ALIA eVTOL aircraft (A250).
The A250 is an eVTOL aircraft, or electric vertical take off and landing aircraft, a type of plane that is being tested nationwide for increased air mobility, especially as air taxis in large cities.
For BETA, the new federal approval means the company is now able to conduct flight operations with participants “for the purpose of conducting market surveys,” according to an FAA release.
Additionally the airworthiness certificate expands where BETA is allowed to operate, so the A250 aircraft can now fly in more areas and collect more data.
“Operators can now experience the A250 firsthand and begin planning how it fits into their businesses, from connecting communities to moving people and goods at a lower cost,” said BETA Technologies Founder and CEO Kyle Clark. “That’s an important step toward commercial adoption, and we’re grateful to the FAA for developing the regulatory framework that makes these operations possible.”
BETA’s new airworthiness approval is part of a larger initiative at the FAA to begin testing eVTOL aircraft and their use in the real world.
In March 2026, the agency launched the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) to operate eight pilot projects with test flights across the U.S. over at least the next three years.
The project aims to test different eVTOL uses, including air taxis, regional passenger transportation, emergency medical responses, and more.
In April, the pilot project launched eVTOL test flights between Manhattan and the area’s airports to test a potential streamlined commute for airline passengers.
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