BETA Technologies, Republic Airways, Brickyard Connection & Signature Aviation showcase next evolution of aviation
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ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando International Airport (MCO) was the site of electric aviation history this week when BETA Technologies, Republic Airways, Brickyard Connection, and Signature Aviation featured a demonstration on how BETA’s electric aircraft and charging infrastructure will enable commercial operations across the state.
The event took place at Signature Aviation’s Arnold Palmer Hangar, located on the West Ramp of Orlando International, and showcased the complete system that electric commercial aviation requires: the aircraft, the operators, and the infrastructure to support them. The partners outlined how near-term cargo, medical, and passenger missions will connect Florida’s major metropolitan areas with the regional airports that serve them.
“Orlando International Airport is proud to host this milestone demonstration and to work alongside partners like BETA, Republic Airways, Brickyard Connection, and Signature Aviation as electric aviation moves from promise to practical operations,” said Lance Lyttle, Chief Executive Officer, Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, which manages Orlando International and Orlando Executive airports. “As a Florida gateway, we’re focused on preparing the infrastructure and operating environment that will enable safe, reliable innovation to support near-term cargo, medical, and passenger missions. Today’s event will hopefully help to strengthen connectivity across the state.”
“Together, BETA, Republic Airways, and Signature Aviation are demonstrating how aircraft, infrastructure, and operators unite in a real-world environment to deliver repeatable missions and a clear path to commercialization for all-electric flight,” said Simon Newitt, head of sales and support at BETA. “BETA has flown more than 135,000 nautical miles in ALIA aircraft across the globe. That operational experience is what positions us to scale deliberately and efficiently for states like Florida, where near-term, short-haul cargo, medical, and passenger demand is strongest.”
Earlier this month, BETA, Republic and Brickyard completed three days of high-cadence electric flight demonstrations at Kissimmee Gateway Airport following a winter demonstration campaign in Burlington, VT, and Plattsburgh, NY, earlier this year. The companies state the back-to-back hot- and cold-weather demonstrations prove the readiness of electric commercial aviation to support cargo, logistics, passenger, and medical missions connecting Florida’s major metropolitan areas with the regional airports that serve them.
Since announcing their partnership at the 2025 Paris Air Show, BETA and Republic have conducted advanced pilot training, operational integration, and performance evaluations along Florida’s I-4 corridor. Today’s event translated that progress into a tangible demonstration of how the ALIA CTOL will operate in routine commercial service, connecting major metropolitan areas with the regional airports that serve them across cargo, logistics, passenger, and medical transport missions.
