How a U.S. Company Enabled Norway’s First Electric Aircraft Trials

Six-month operational test campaign involved regulators, airports, operators, and other key stakeholders.

Jack Daleo

Wednesday, February 04, 2026 at 04:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

A Beta Alia electric aircraft operated by Bristow flies over western Norway during the country’s first national electric aviation test project. [Credit: Bristow Group]

Key Takeaways:

Norway successfully completed its first electric aviation test project, with helicopter operator Bristow Group flying Beta Technologies' all-electric Alia CX300 more than 100 times between Norwegian airports over six months.
This pioneering project, conducted within a "regulatory sandbox," demonstrated the safe integration and operational viability of electric aircraft, covering over 8,700 nautical miles and including the first electric flights between major Norwegian cities.
The campaign validated aircraft performance, charging infrastructure, and winter operations in demanding environments, providing crucial insights for future airport development, charging systems, and emergency protocols.
The project confirmed electric aircraft can be integrated into existing airspace with minimal additional workload for air traffic control, generating optimism for electric aviation's future and contributing to Beta Technologies' global testing and commercial authorization efforts.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Above the fjords of Norway, a coalition of regulators and private companies have quietly—in the literal sense—achieved a major aviation milestone for the country.

January 28 marked the culmination of Norway’s first electric aviation test project, a six-month operational flight campaign that saw helicopter operator Bristow Group fly Vermont-based Beta Technologies’ all-electric Alia CX300 between Norwegian airports more than 100 times. The aircraft covered more than 8,700 nm and completed the first electric flights between major cities in Norway.