US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy flew aboard Beta Technologies’ Alia eVTOL, becoming the first US Transportation Secretary to fly in an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
The flight took place on May 29, 2026, at Beta’s headquarters in Burlington, Vermont, according to the US Department of Transportation and Beta.
“This is the kind of innovation I love to see: technology that’s going to fundamentally improve how people and products move,” Duffy said after the flight. “Beta Technologies is one of many great American companies making sure the United States leads the way in this exciting technology.”
Duffy said next-generation aircraft could support missions ranging from emergency organ transport to regional air travel.
“The future of flight is coming,” he said.
Beta said Duffy flew in both the Alia CTOL and VTOL aircraft during the visit.
The company is developing an electric conventional takeoff and landing aircraft and an electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. It is also building charging infrastructure to support electric aircraft operations.
The flight comes as the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) move ahead with the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, known as eIPP, which is intended to help test advanced air mobility aircraft in real-world operations.
The FAA selected eight proposals for the program earlier in 2026. The DOT said the projects span 26 states and will involve public and private partners testing missions such as passenger transport, cargo, medical logistics and other advanced air mobility operations.
Beta is involved in several of the selected projects through partnerships with state agencies, operators and infrastructure providers.
Beta has not published a list price for the Alia VTOL. The company has instead emphasized operating cost, saying the aircraft has an estimated energy cost of $28 per flight hour, compared with $311 per hour for a Bell 407 helicopter.
The Alia VTOL is a piloted electric aircraft designed for vertical takeoff and landing, with a related conventional takeoff and landing variant called the CX300. Beta lists the aircraft as single-pilot and IFR-capable, with a dual-pilot training configuration, one H500A electric motor for forward propulsion, a five-blade fixed-pitch propeller, a maximum speed of 153 knots and a maximum demonstrated range of 336 nautical miles.
The company has positioned Alia for passenger, cargo and medical logistics missions. Its aircraft use Beta’s electric propulsion system and are designed to operate as part of a broader electric aviation network that includes ground charging equipment.
Beta has already conducted flight demonstrations with its conventional takeoff and landing aircraft, including operations involving airline and logistics partners.
