联邦航空局 FAA 发出首张电动垂直起降飞机市场调查特别适航证：BETA 的 A250 已完成首飞
联邦航空局（FAA）10 月 21 日宣布，已向总部位于 Vermont 州 South Burlington 的 BETA Technologies 公司发出首张针对电动垂直起降（eVTOL）飞机的「市场调查特别适航证」，获证机型为该公司的 ALIA A250。该证依据联邦航空法规第 21 部发出，允许 BETA 搭载潜在客户与运营商等利益相关方飞行，让运营商亲身体验这款全电动飞机的性能——这是电动垂直起降飞机首次获得此类授权，此前 BETA 的传统起降（CTOL）机型已先行获批同类证书。
A250 已于 10 月 20 日完成新证之下的首飞：从纽约州 Plattsburgh 国际机场垂直起飞，转入机翼飞行后垂直降落在 Vermont 州的 Patrick Leahy Burlington 国际机场，全程 34 海里、用时 20 分钟。该机采用双驾驶员操控设计，可搭载最多 5 名乘客与逾 1,200 磅货物，应用场景涵盖货运物流、医疗运输、国防与客运；BETA 的 CTOL 与 VTOL 两个平台累计飞行已逾 25 万海里。
交通部长 Sean P. Duffy 表示，FAA 对 BETA A250 的特别适航认证是「迈向美国飞行未来」的关键一步。FAA 局长 Bryan Bedford 表示，该局致力于与美国创新企业合作、把新机型安全纳入国家空域，同时保持严格的安全标准。BETA 创始人兼首席执行官 Kyle Clark 表示，运营商如今可以亲身体验垂直飞行、着手规划其业务应用，这是迈向商业应用的重要一步；公司将继续推进完整的型号认证与商业运营。
关联：112年后电动飞机重飞美国首条商业客运航线：ALIA CX300横越Tampa Bay，交通部宣布电动飞行试点新里程碑
FAA Issues First-Ever eVTOL Market Survey Certificate to BETA Technologies' ALIA A250
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on October 21 that it has issued the first-ever Special Airworthiness Certificate for market surveys for an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, to BETA Technologies of South Burlington, Vermont, for its ALIA A250. Issued under Part 21 of the federal aviation regulations, the certificate allows BETA to conduct flights with prospective customers, operators and other stakeholders so they can experience the all-electric aircraft firsthand. BETA's conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) aircraft had previously received a similar authorization.
The A250 completed its first flight under the new authorization on October 20, taking off vertically from Plattsburgh International Airport in New York, transitioning to wing-borne flight, and landing vertically at Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport in Vermont, covering 34 nautical miles in 20 minutes. The aircraft has dual pilot controls and is designed to carry up to five passengers and more than 1,200 pounds of cargo for cargo, medical, defense and passenger missions; BETA's CTOL and VTOL fleets have together flown more than 250,000 nautical miles.
Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy called the certification another critical step toward enabling the future of flight in America. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the agency is committed to working with American innovators to safely integrate new aircraft into the national airspace while maintaining rigorous safety standards. BETA founder and CEO Kyle Clark said operators can now experience vertical flight firsthand and begin planning how it fits into their businesses, as the company works toward full type certification and commercial operations.
来源：GSM·美国（原文链接）
图片来源：图：BETA Technologies 的 ALIA A250 电动垂直起降飞机俯视图（资料图）。BETA Technologies 供图，CC BY-SA 3.0，取自维基共享资源。Photo: Top view of BETA Technologies' ALIA A250 electric VTOL aircraft (file photo). By BETA Technologies, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
