b'Montgomery Regional Leaps Into the Future 50 MGMGROUND SUPPORT With Electric Aircraft Chargers BY KRISTIN V. SHAWMontgomery Regional Airportlanding (eVTOL) and electric conventional (MGM) in Alabama claimed a spottakeoff and landing (eCTOL) aircraft. in aviation history this FebruaryMGM is located in an area steeped in as one of the first U.S. airports to open aaviation history and current development. station with state-of-the-art chargers forMontgomery was the site of the first U.S. electric aircraft. civilian flying school, opened in 1910 by When crews brokenone other than Wilbur and Orville Wright. ground for the projectJust north of there is Redstone Arsenal, FACTS&FIGURESlast October, Executivethe home of NASA Marshall Spaceflight Project: Electric Aircraft Charging Station Director Wade DavisCenter, the U.S. governments civilian Location: Montgomery Regional Airportcalled the eventrocketry and spacecraft propulsion a significant leapresearch center. To the south near Mobile, Airport Owner: City of Montgomery, AL forward for the futureWADE DAVIS AL, is the first U.S. commercial aircraft Funding: 100% from Beta Technologies of aviation, our airportproduction site for Airbus.Number of Chargers: 2 and the aviation industry as a whole. ThatsThis electric aircraft charger project Engineering & Planning Consultant: Goodwyn Millsnot hyperbole. While battery-poweredmakes sense in Montgomery for a number Cawoodaircraft is still an emerging technology,of reasons, Davis explains. From the Construction Project Manager: Enertech its front and center in the news. Thatssustainability standpoint, eventually aircraft Charging Equipment: Beta Technologies especially true for Beta Technologies ofwill go that way, and we want to be on the Burlington, VT, which not only provided front end of that curve. Having a high-Groundbreaking: Oct. 2023 and fundedthe aircraft chargers at MGM Installation Complete: Dec. 2023 speed charging facility for aircraft opens but also builds electric vertical takeoff andnew doors and business opportunities. Chargers Open: Feb. 2024March | April 2024AirportImprovement.com'