Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM) has installed two chargers to supply power not only to vehicles but also to aircraft.
The charging system, designed by BETA Technologies, powered up its first aircraft when BETA flew its all-electric ALIA aircraft into the Montgomery field.
Based in Burlington, Vermont, BETA is working with the Federal Aviation Administration to develop and certify the aircraft, which has been on deployment for several months with the U.S. Air Force at Duke Field in Florida.
In addition to the Level 3 aircraft charger on the field, the team — including the airport, BETA and Alabama Power — also added a Level 2 charger for public EVs outside the fence.
“The Montgomery Regional Airport is thrilled to welcome the dawn of a cleaner and more sustainable era in aviation with the installation of our new electric aircraft charger — a first for the state of Alabama,” said Wade Davis, MGM executive director. “With the commissioning of our state-of-the-art electric aircraft charger, we are not only energizing the spirit of innovation but also maintaining a commitment to be environmentally responsible.”
BETA Chief Operations Officer Blain Newton added, “As we move closer to getting electric aircraft into operation, it is critical that we are building charging infrastructure where our customers need it. Montgomery marks the first charger in Alabama as we continue to deploy our chargers in key markets that will help accelerate connectivity among regional and rural communities.”
