SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) joined BETA Technologies, Inc. (BETA) founder and CEO Kyle Clark and the company’s employees and engineers to discuss the Senator’s new Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act, bipartisan legislation to update the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) certification process to promote safety, transparency, and predictability for new and novel aviation technologies, including Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) aircraft. The Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act aims to help American AAM companies—like BETA—succeed, while cementing the United States’ role as a global leader in aviation by ensuring the FAA puts safety first while bringing increased transparency and predictability to the certification process.

While at BETA, Senator Welch joined BETA founder and CEO Clark for a market survey flight aboard the company’s CX300 aircraft, flying over South Burlington, Colchester, and Milton. 

“Vermont is so proud to be the home of BETA Technologies, which is manufacturing the next generation of electric aircraft here in South Burlington. Streamlining FAA certification processes and creating more transparency for emerging AAM companies like BETA is critical to chipping away at gridlock to keep up with our allies,” said Senator Welch. “Congress must pass this bipartisan legislation to boost our country’s storied legacy of global leadership in aviation and support ingenuity and jobs here in Vermont.”   

View photos from the event below:

Senator Welch’s legislation would also bolster FAA bandwidth to reduce gridlock in the certification process by providing more clarity and transparency for industry applicants. Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.), John Curtis (R-Utah), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.) are original cosponsors in the Senate. The House version of the bill is led by House Aviation Subcommittee Chair Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX-22) and is supported by House Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Member Rep. André Carson (D-IN-07), Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19), and Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-CA-23). Learn more about the bill here.

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