Norway aviation leaders sign LOI to participate in an international test arena for zero- and low-emission aviation

Beta Technologies. C: Avinor.

Minister of Transport: “Norway is an attractive market for early introduction.”

“It is very gratifying that the first letter of intent to use Norway as a test arena for zero- and low-emission aircraft is now being concluded. I commend Avinor and the Civil Aviation Authority for taking another important step in phasing in new technologies,” said Jon-Ivar Nygård, Norwegian Minister of Transport. “The fact that well-renowned international players such as Bristow and BETA wish to test in Norway, shows that Norway is an attractive market for early introduction of new technologies. It is urgent to move forward with this work if we are to achieve the goal of fossil-free aviation by 2050. This is also the reason why the Government has allocated 50 million kroner to Avinor and the Civil Aviation Authority in the state budget for 2025.”

“As an aviation authority we are committed to taking a holistic approach to ensure the entire aviation ecosystem is involved. Through close collaboration with the parties, we can facilitate and support the safe integration of new technologies. Developing an advanced regulatory sandbox together with EASA is a significant and rewarding task, but we firmly believe it can support industry, accelerate innovation processes regarding new mobility and provide us with critical competency. We are truly looking forward to this important work,” said Lars Kobberstad, Director General of CAA Norway.

“With the signing of this letter of intent, we are taking a step further on the path towards zero and low emission aviation. Avinor is very pleased that a major player like Bristow and an innovative manufacturer like BETA want to use Norway as a test arena. We have previously

stated that the goal was to start test flights by 2025, and we are now well on track to achieve this goal,” said Abraham Foss, CEO of Avinor.

Opportunity to gain valuable experience.

“From the beginning, BETA has taken a hands-on, real-world approach to flight validation, and we look forward to helping bring those learnings to the Nordic region,” said Patrick Buckles, BETA’s Sales Lead. “We’ve designed our technology to be versatile, with the intention of serving all communities with a low-cost solution. Between Norway’s dense populations and sophisticated infrastructure, there is a real opportunity for this technology to make an impact, and we are excited to be working with outstanding partners as the tip of the spear.”

“Bristow is proud to be a part of this vital opportunity for Norway to lead the way in the development of sustainable aviation technology,” said David Stepanek, Bristow’s Executive Vice President, Chief Transformation Officer. “This is the only regulatory sandbox proposed for Europe and expected to be the lead as EASA rolls out AAM regulations and operations. By working together with key industry players, we will gain valuable experience that will help shape the future of aviation.”

The Test Arena will focus on knowledge-sharing, enabling the entire ecosystem to benefit from the trials. It aims to foster collaboration on necessary infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and operational procedures for zero- and low-emission aircraft, ensuring that the entire industry can learn from these innovative developments.