BETA Technologies, a manufacturer of all-electric aircraft that will perform critical cargo, military, and medical missions, is partnering with Clinton County in Upstate NY on a $41 million expansion of its existing facility at Plattsburgh International Airport. The new, upgraded facility will serve as the manufacturing and final assembly hub for BETA’s all-electric aircraft and will establish a permanent flight test and aircraft delivery center, responsible for final flight testing, aircraft painting, and customer delivery, at one of the North Country’s busiest transit hubs. BETA’s expansion in Plattsburgh will deepen the company’s commitment to developing one-of-a-kind aerospace technology in New York State, strengthen the North Country’s reputation as a modern transportation hub, and build on Governor Kathy Hochul’s continued investments to support clean transportation and a greener economy. As part of the agreement to expand operations at Plattsburgh International Airport, BETA Technologies has committed to creating 85 full time jobs in exchange for a $20 million grant awarded to BETA via Clinton County from Empire State Development’s Regional Economic and Community Assistance Program.
“If you’re looking for the jobs of the future, come to New York! This expansion of BETA Technologies in Plattsburgh is exactly the kind of growth and innovation that’s supercharging New York’s economy for the 21st Century,” Governor Hochul said. “From the North Country to Central New York to New York City, my Administration is making transformative investments that create jobs, expand opportunity and grow our economy in every region of the state.”
BETA Founder and CEO Kyle Clark said, “New York State has a strong workforce and a track record of leadership when it comes to supporting and enabling next-generation transportation. At BETA, we’re focused on making aviation cleaner and more efficient for the future, and that requires a number of pieces including technology, infrastructure, and a capable workforce. We’ve been developing, flying, and maintaining our electric aircraft at Plattsburgh International Airport since 2017, and in that time, we’ve been overwhelmed by the State and County’s support of our vision. From policymakers to schools and small businesses, we’ve found resonance here and look forward to doubling down to accelerate our growth and operations to create more quality jobs in the state.”
For the past five years, BETA’s flight test center at Plattsburgh International Airport has served as the point of origin for most of its innovative technology, ensuring many of the company’s largest flight milestones have been completed in New York State. Its longest recorded flight of an electric aircraft spanned 336 nautical miles, from Jamestown to Plattsburgh. BETA has secured firm orders from top global operators including UPS, United Therapeutics, Bristow, LCI, Blade, and Helijet, and has multiphase contracts with the U.S. Air Force and Army.
BETA’s all-electric aircraft generates zero operational emissions, can be recharged in under an hour with BETA chargers and have been designed to optimize payload capacity and range. BETA is creating a nation-wide electric charging network that is also compatible with electric vehicles. The company has installed aircraft charging stations at 15 locations in the U.S. including Jamestown, Rome, and Plattsburgh airports, and has 55 more sites across the country in production including at Elmira, White Plains, Republic, Hudson Valley Regional and Albany International Airports, with plans to continue expanding across the country.
BETA is partnering with local schools and other businesses to grow jobs and develop the workforce in Clinton County and beyond. BETA partners with universities like Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Clarkson University, participating in career fairs and facilitating student design challenges for academic programs like Authentic STEM, and is working with Champlain Valley Educational School to develop curriculums and courses to prepare students for future careers in advanced manufacturing and electric aviation.
