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Bringing AAM to Utah

Imagine a future where you can live in one city and quickly and quietly commute into another every morning for work. Or where you live in a more rural area, but can still expect to receive important parcels or medical deliveries overnight — like any major city does. 

When Aaron Starks and Chris Metts of Utah’s 47G first approached BETA, it was with a huge idea: to bring Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) to the state in order to foster its booming economy, improve the quality of life of all Utahns, and set Utah up to lead the U.S. into the future. The idea included developing an integrated, public-private transportation system that will allow residents to navigate seamlessly between ground and air travel and create more connectivity and access than ever before — for rural and urban communities alike. 
They had recently formed Project Alta, a coalition to create the first operable air mobility system, and were looking for the right partner to do it. 

After trips back and forth — to Vermont to see our electric aircraft and chargers in action, and to Utah to scout locations best-placed to bring AAM to people and businesses in the state — it was clear that there was a likeness between our organizations that would forge a solid partnership. It’s one built on a shared spirit of innovation and belief in the transformative potential of electric aviation. 
This morning in Salt Lake City, BETA signed onto a really exciting partnership with 47G to begin the build-out of that AAM ecosystem in Utah. With the support of Governor Cox and the state, this will be the first step in a 10-year, well-planned, multiphase vision 47G has dreamt up to bring this new mode of transportation to the state. 

Our partnership will leverage Utah's existing infrastructure, focusing first on building a foundational network of charging stations at public-use airports. This will support initial airport-to-airport AAM operations, demonstrating how the lower operating costs will unlock new opportunities like moving small packages or critical medical equipment. Then, Utah will integrate eVTOL operations, carrying passengers for their regular city-to-city commute, luxury tourism experience, or 2034 Olympics travel. 

With this, Utah is helping to create a new blueprint for how public-private partnerships can drive technological innovation. 
Our collaboration goes beyond simply introducing new technology — we're creating a comprehensive approach to reimagining transportation. This partnership isn't just about low cost operations. It's about reimagining how we move, connect, and solve big challenges. With 47G and the state of Utah, BETA is not just imagining the future of aviation, we're actively building it. Together.
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