Norway to host low-emission aircraft test area
December 11, 2024
Key aviation stakeholders are to partner to develop an international test area for zero- and low-emission aviation in Norway, with Bristow and Beta Technologies among the operators looking to take advantage of the facility as soon as mid-2025.
The landmark agreement – bringing together the Civil Aviation Authority of Norway, Avinor, Beta Technologies and Bristow Norway – will work to build a concept of operations for demonstrating low-emission cargo transport. The creation of a ‘regulatory sandbox in Norway will facilitate demonstration flights by late summer or early autumn 2025, intending to “test, learn, prepare, and prove the viability of advanced air mobility operations in a controlled environment”.
“The fact that well-renowned international players such as Bristow and Beta wish to test in Norway, shows that Norway is an attractive market for early introduction of new technologies,” said Jon-Ivar Nygård, Norwegian minister of transport.
In 2022, the Bristow Group placed a firm order with Beta Technologies for five eVTOL Alia aircraft, with the option to purchase an additional 50 units. In November 2024, Beta celebrated the inaugural flight of its first production CX300 conventional take-off and landing variant. “From the beginning, Beta has taken a hands-on, real-world approach to flight validation, and we look forward to helping bring those learnings to the Nordic region,” said Beta sales lead Patrick Buckles.
The upcoming test area aligns with the 50 million kroner the Norwegian government has allocated to the CAA and Avinor – the state-owned company operating most of Norway’s civil airports – in its 2025 state budget. “We have previously stated that the goal was to start test flights by 2025, and we are now well on track to achieve this goal,” concluded Avinor CEO Abraham Foss.
