US FBO chain Avflight, in partnership with Beta Technologies, an electric aerospace company, has installed electric aircraft charging infrastructure at four of its Michigan-based FBOs, creating a foundational intrastate charging corridor for aviation’s future.

Charging stations are already online at Avflight Lansing at Capital Region International airport and Avflight Holland at West Michigan Regional, with additional installations forthcoming at Avflight Traverse City at Cherry Capital airport and Avflight Willow Run at Detroit Willow Run. The development is part of a $2.6 million investment awarded to Beta Technologies by the State of Michigan to support the deployment of advanced air mobility infrastructure across key regional airports.

“We’re proud to work alongside Beta Technologies and the State of Michigan to deliver this critical infrastructure,” says Joe Meszaros, Avflight’s vice president of operations. “These charging stations reinforce Avflight’s long-term commitment to innovation and environmental responsibility while making Michigan a leader in the national push for electric aviation.”

To commemorate this achievement, Beta flew its all-electric Alia aircraft into Avflight Lansing to complete an inaugural charge and demonstrate the capabilities of the newly commissioned airside charger. Guests from Avflight, Beta, the Capital Region Airport Authority and the State of Michigan gathered at LAN for the event on 30 July.

These Michigan sites triple a growing network of Avflight FBOs with electric aviation infrastructure, joining Avflight Akron-Canton at Akron Canton Regional in Ohio and Avflight Columbus at Golden Triangle Regional in Mississippi.

The Beta chargers installed at Avflight’s locations are multimodal and interoperable, designed around the Combined Charging System standard. This enables the chargers to serve not only electric aircraft, but also electric ground vehicles, helping reduce emissions across all modes of airport transportation. They join a growing network of chargers Beta is installing across the US and Canada.

“Michigan has a long track record of innovation when it comes to transportation, and this is yet another example,” reveals Nate Ward, Beta Technologies’ lead for charging network development. “The installation of these four chargers and the state’s support to do so, represent a meaningful step toward advancing AAM and delivering real benefits to Michigan’s communities and economy. We’re grateful to partner with a wonderful, forward-leaning business like Avflight on this path to the future.”

In addition to charging solutions, Beta is producing its electric aircraft, the Alia CTOL fixed-wing and Alia VTOL models, from its nearly 200,000 sq ft facility in Vermont. The company has firm orders and scheduled deliveries with a diverse roster of global operators, including UPS, Air New Zealand, Republic Airways, United Therapeutics, Bristow, Blade, Helijet, Metro Aviation, New Zealand Air Ambulance and the U.S. Department of Defense.