Gainesville Regional airport and University Air Center in Florida are to instal electric aircraft and vehicle charging infrastructure from Beta Technologies. Gainesville thus has become one of Florida's earliest airports to undertake this utility upgrade and join Beta's growing network of aircraft chargers in the US.

Beta’s electric charging infrastructure is multimodal and interoperable, meaning it is capable of powering all types of electric aircraft as well as electric ground vehicles like cars, vans and aircraft tugs. Gainesville has installed one Level 3 Fast-Charger located airside at its FBO University Air Center. Positioned inside the airport fence, the charger is ready for use by electric aircraft as well as electric ground vehicles and airport equipment.

“We are excited to participate with Beta Technologies and be part of this exciting electric charging infrastructure roll-out,” says Gainesville CEO Allan Penksa. “Along with our partners at our FBO, University Air Center, we welcome the opportunity to offer one more way to help our customers ‘Fly Easy’. We appreciate being chosen by Beta to be part of its clear, sustainable and quiet electric flight path.”

“Electric aviation will fundamentally change the way we move both goods and people, creating greater access and connectivity via regional air transport,” says Nate Ward, Beta head of network development. “As we round the corner toward getting our electric aircraft into the market, it's critical that the infrastructure is in place to support them. It's wonderful to work with partners like Gainesville Regional airport and University Air Center, who understand how important this technology is to overall progress of the industry.”

This latest collaboration is just one of many recent enhancements at Gainesville, including taxiway rehabilitation, the construction of a new 418 space parking garage and intermodal transportation facility, and enhanced airline office and baggage handling system improvements.

Gainesville Regional airport joins a growing national network of electric infrastructure that Beta is deploying across the US. Currently, the company has 33 active site locations from Vermont to Florida to Arkansas, with more than 50 additional sites in development for public and private use across the East, West and Gulf coasts. Beta’s charge cubes, which are UL-certified and compliant to industry standards, have been purchased by numerous industry players including Archer Aviation, Signature Aviation, Atlantic Aviation, AvFlight and the Department of Defense.

In addition to charging solutions, Beta continues to progress its all-electric A250 Alia VTOL and CX300 Alia CTOL aircraft toward certification, anticipating entry into service in 2025 and 2026, respectively. The company has opened the doors to a 188,500sq ft aircraft production facility in Vermont, where it is beginning to manufacture aircraft for delivery to its growing base of customers, which includes global operators across cargo and logistics, medical, defence and passenger applications, including UPS, Air New Zealand, United Therapeutics, Bristow, Blade, LCI, Helijet and the US Department of Defense.

Aerospace and innovation are key components of Florida's strategic transportation plans for the future, as highlighted by Gainesville's embrace of this new technology.