Metro Aviation and BETA Technologies have flown BETA’s all-electric ALIA conventional take-off and landing aircraft with Washington County Emergency Medical Services in Brenham, Texas, testing its potential for disaster-response operations.
The demonstration, held this month, focused on using the aircraft to transport emergency equipment for an EMS system that handles more than 7,000 calls a year across roughly 700 square miles.
It was BETA’s first flight in Texas under the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Programme (eIPP) and formed part of Project Nexus, led by the Texas Department of Transportation.
Washington County EMS Director Taylor Leonard said the agency was grateful to be involved in the project, while Metro Aviation Vice President Todd Stanberry said the flight demonstrated how electric aircraft could complement existing emergency-response operations.
Washington County EMS has worked with Metro since 2022, with Metro operating an EC145 helicopter for the county. The agency provides emergency and non-emergency transfers, critical care and rescue paramedic services across the county.
The demonstration tested how the ALIA CTOL could operate alongside helicopters and ground-based emergency services. Under Project Nexus, BETA and Metro are also assessing how electric aircraft and charging infrastructure can be integrated into established aviation operations on a route linking Galveston, Sugar Land and Brenham.
BETA said the programme aims to develop an operating model for integrating electric aviation into commercial operations across Texas, working with aviation operators, public agencies and other partners.
