First All-Electric ALIA Aircraft Takes Flight in Norway Marking Test Arena Operations Kick Off

First All-Electric Test Flights Begin in Norway’s Zero-Emission Aviation Push

Bristow Norway AS has flown BETA Technologies’ all-electric ALIA CX300 aircraft at Stavanger Airport, launching the country’s first Test Arena for Zero & Low Emission Aviation. The programme, run in partnership with Avinor and the Civil Aviation Authority of Norway (CAA Norway), aims to trial Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) operations and accelerate the shift to sustainable air transport.

Over the coming months, evaluation flights will explore potential customer routes between Avinor-operated airports, starting with Stavanger–Bergen services. BETA-trained Bristow pilots will operate the aircraft during the six-month “regulatory sandbox” project, gathering data to support future integration of electric aviation.

The inaugural flight was carried out by Bristow pilot Jeremy Degagne and BETA pilot Nate Dubie. Norway’s Transport Minister Jon-Ivar Nygård called the event “a significant step on a long and complex journey,” highlighting the country’s reliance on aviation and its ambition to lead in sustainable transport. Climate and Environment Minister Andreas Bjelland Eriksen said the Test Arena showed how climate policy could be turned into “practical solutions” and help create green jobs.

Bristow Executive Vice President Dave Stepanek said the trials matched the company’s “crawl, walk, run” approach to AAM development, while BETA’s Chief Revenue Officer Shawn Hall praised Norway’s “spirit of innovation” as an ideal setting for operational testing. Avinor CEO Abraham Foss described the flights as a milestone in moving toward zero- and low-emission commercial aviation while preserving connectivity for Norway’s dispersed population.

The ALIA CX300, designed for efficiency in payload, range, and instrument flight operations, is seen as well-suited to Norway’s challenging geography and winter conditions. The aircraft, registered N214BT, arrived after a multi-country journey through Ireland, the UK, France, Germany, Luxembourg, and Denmark, including daily demonstration flights at the Paris Air Show.

CAA Norway Director General Lars Kobberstad said the regulator would use the programme to help shape rules and safety standards for future technologies. Norway, where 89% of new cars registered in 2024 were electric, sees the Test Arena as part of its broader leadership in clean mobility.