Norway advances zero-emission aviation with landmark agreement
March 5, 2025
Following the establishment of Norway as an international test arena for zero- and low-emission aviation in April 2024 by Norway’s Civil Aviation Authority and airport operator Avinor, the first formal agreement for demonstration flights has now been signed.
The signing, which took place at Bergen Airport on 4 March brought together key stakeholders, including American aircraft manufacturer BETA Technologies and Bristow Norway.
Demonstration flights in Q3
Focused on cargo transport, BETA’s ALIA CX300 conventional take-off and landing (eCTOL) aircraft will be used for the upcoming demonstration. Operated by Bristow Norway the flights, which will commence in late summer, will initially connect Stavanger Airport and Bergen Airport.
BETA Technologies has recently completed the production build of the ALIA aircraft designed for these tests. Manufactured at the company’s production facility in Burlington, Vermont in the US, this second production-intent aircraft has already secured airworthiness certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for VFR, IFR, day and night operations. The aircraft is expected to arrive in Norway later this year.
The establishment of Norway as an international test arena for sustainable aircraft is underpinned by a one billion kroner investment from the government to help accelerate the country’s transition to zero- and low-emission aviation.
“With an aviation industry committed to reducing emissions, a decentralised network of airports of various sizes, a significant regional air transport market, a proactive aviation authority and a supplier industry specialising in battery-electric propulsion systems and hydrogen technology, Norway is well-positioned for the early adoption of new technologies,” said Minister of Transport Jon-Ivar Nygård.
Industry cross-collaboration
Norway’s test arena aims to generate knowledge and facilitate scaling by involving key stakeholders such as airlines, aircraft manufacturers, suppliers and the energy sector.
“Avinor’s role is to facilitate the infrastructure at airports and make the airspace available for actors who wish to test various zero- and low-emission aircraft in an operational environment,’ said Karianne Helland Strand, executive vice president for sustainability, concept and infrastructure development at Avinor. “We currently have a procurement process underway for fast chargers for electric aircraft in bergen and Stavanger to accommodate the first test flight.”
As the regulatory body, the Civil Aviation Authority of Norway will ensure compliance with aviation safety standards. Its goal is to establish a regulatory framework that supports new aviation technologies while maintaining stringent safety measures. “We are now establishing a connection point between the aviation industry and the support system in line with the government’s objectives,” said Lars Kobberstad, Director General of Civil Aviation.
Industry partners have also expressed their enthusiasm for the project. “We see great value in real-world demonstrations, both to understand performance and mission fit, but also to involve local communities in what this technology offers,” said Patrick Buckles, BETA’s sales lead. “As we operationalise our technology, we’re excited to showcase how its low-cost, high-reliability operations can serve markets all over the world, including Norway,” he added.
Similarly, Bristow sees the initiative as a major step toward innovation in aviation. “This regulatory sandbox evaluation project exemplifies our philosophy of crawl, walk, run for early adoption of new aviation technologies and solidifies the commitment to oru vision to be a leader in sustainable aviation,” said Dave Stepanek, executive vice president and chief transformation officer for Bristow Group.
Charging infrastructure milestones
Infrastructure preparations are now underway ahead of flight operations commencing later this year. A supplier for fast chargers will be selected, with Stavanger Airport set to receive its charger by 1 June and Bergen Airport expecting a mobile charger by 15 August.
