Air New Zealand selects BETA’s ALIA electric CTOL as its first next-generation aircraft
10 December 2023
Air New Zealand announced the ALIA (earlier post) as the airline’s first purchase of a next generation aircraft in its Mission Next Gen Aircraft program. Designed by electric aerospace company BETA Technologies, the battery-powered all-electric aircraft is expected to join Air New Zealand’s fleet in 2026. Air New Zealand is purchasing the conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) version of the ALIA, which will also come in a VTOL version.
The announcement follows an 18-month period of evaluation and diligence by Air New Zealand. Through the airline’s Mission Next Gen Aircraft program, it sought and received ideas and insights from 30 organizations, selecting four partners with which to work closely on its goal of launching commercial flights using next-generation aircraft in 2026. BETA’s ALIA is the first commercial order in the program.
The aircraft will only be brought into service once it has passed testing and is certified as safe to fly by the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority. Air New Zealand will initially operate the aircraft as a cargo-only service in partnership with New Zealand Post, on a route being selected through an expressions of interest (EOI) process with airports across Aotearoa.
Air New Zealand has a firm order for one aircraft with options for an additional two aircraft, and rights for a further 20 aircraft.
The ALIA has flown more than 480 km in one flight in testing. For Air New Zealand’s initial flights, it is looking at routes of around 150 km in length. Given the shorter length of the flights Air New Zealand intends to operate, it will likely fly the ALIA at a lower altitude of between 1500 to 3000 meters. The ALIA weighs three tonnes, is just over 12 meters long, and will fly at a speed of up to 270 km/h. A full charge of the battery is anticipated to take between 40-60 minutes.
It makes little sense to employ stagnating solutions for new designs. Why is conventional and outdated propeller design still being used instead of toroidal propellers?
Posted by: yoatmon | 10 December 2023 at 03:15 AM
Expensive and hard to scale.
Toroidal propellers also have clear disadvantages.
The main one is the difficulty to scale them to mass production
due to their complex geometry, which leads to high production costs.
Posted by: SJC | 10 December 2023 at 04:06 AM
@SJC
Thanks.
I also like that this can use conventional take off when that is OK. Saves a lot of fast power drain.
Posted by: Davemart | 10 December 2023 at 06:08 AM
This version is just a battery powered small aircraft, nothing crazy there.
The range won't be great, but we know that.
The VTOL versions are a different kettle of fish, but I suppose get the ctol version working first.
They want to watch the number of times you can recharge the battery. If this is low (say < 1000 charges), it will get very expensive to operate.
So keep the battery state 20-80% (with a reduced range). I suppose you an keep the 0-20% bit as an emergency reserve which shouldn't be used very often.
Posted by: mahonj | 10 December 2023 at 09:21 AM
Hi Jim
I tend to like the set ups which use swappable battery packs, so that they can be slow charged and give the packs an easier time.
But these guys are going for fast charging:
https://www.beta.team/charge/
Posted by: Davemart | 10 December 2023 at 12:05 PM
The Beta team completed a battery swap and and took off again in about a half hour
https://evtol.news/news/beta-alia-250-flies-to-new-hampshire
Posted by: SJC | 10 December 2023 at 02:10 PM
Thanks SJC.
I wonder whether that was a one off show, with lots of folk working, or they envisage it as a routine alternative?
Depending on how much fast charge hammers whatever the particular battery technology used, at present I usually prefer something set up for routine fast swapping, although of course that means more batteries in the usage chain.
Posted by: Davemart | 11 December 2023 at 01:30 AM
They obviously should talk to their customers like UPS, if they want fast charging then fine if they want battery swapping then fine if they want both then provide both give the customers what they need and want. What they want is the simplest and most convenient at the lowest price kind of obvious.
Posted by: SJC | 11 December 2023 at 10:50 AM
@SJC
Sure, but the best pathways to get lowest cost with most convenience are not always obvious, especially when new or newish technologies are concerned.
I remember a few years back when start ups were trying battery swapping in cars in Israel, which did not take off.
They are still trying the same thing in China.
Who knows how that will work out in the end?
'Kind of obvious' is usually more so in retrospect.
They seem to have mainly plumped for fast charging.
Maybe they are right, maybe battery swapping will work better.
The jury is still out.
Posted by: Davemart | 11 December 2023 at 11:53 AM
The customers are the jury just ask them it's called market research you do it before you even spend a dime that is fundamental.
Posted by: SJC | 11 December 2023 at 02:44 PM
Years ago, when I was still driving ICEs my starter batteries lasted 8 to 10 years. The reason for those batteries lasting so long was that they were always subject to good maintenance which I carried out personally.
I don't perform fast charging on my EVs equipped with Li-Ion batteries because these batteries "resent" abuse. I also avoid other negligent maintenance practices. In a swapping station, I'll never know what "junk" I may receive.
Swapping Stations?: NO THANK YOU.
Posted by: yoatmon | 12 December 2023 at 05:30 AM