Member Briefing: October 20
- October 23, 2023
- Posted by: Jacob Rigg
- Category: Member briefing
Electrification in the 3rd dimension – Nation’s first electric aircraft lands in the Triangle
Following up on our conversation at last year’s RTA breakfast event, which focused on the melding of life science and transportation innovation, RTA staff was able to view America’s first ever electrically-powered aircraft authorized for travel outside their designated testing zone.
Blaine Newton, BETA Technologies, COO who highlighted the ALIA aircraft at last year’s RTA Transportation Breakfast event, provided remarks next to the aircraft at an event today at the Raleigh Executive Jetport at Sanford. Other speakers included NCDOT Secretary Joey Hopkins, Mikaël Cardinal with Unither Bioélectronique, affiliated with RTA Gold member United Therapeutics (and also a speaker at last year’s RTA Breakfast), and a representative from the US Air Force’s AFWERX program. The event also included the groundbreaking of the first electric multimodal aviation charging station at an airport in North Carolina.
The regional business community applauds NCDOT, BETA Technologies, United Therapeutics, and other electric aviation partners for for advancing transportation into the future. We will have more information including photos from the event in next week’s blog.
Vote early, vote often, for NCDOT
Please consider voting for NCDOT for their innovative flood warning system in the 2023 America’s Transportation Awards. Out of the 81 projects initially submitted from across the United States, the flood warning system is among the top 12.
AASHTO Executive Director Jim Tymon, said that “These vital projects deliver a range of benefits…. (and) showcase how state DOTs are building more equitable, resilient, and multimodal infrastructure for our communities.” Kudos to NCDOT for continuing to push the boundaries of technology, innovation, and service in transportation. You can vote every day – once per day – to support the nomination of NCDOT’s flood warning system for a national award.
Let’s get moving,
Joe Milazzo II, PE
RTA Executive Director
