First Formal Agreement to Use Norway as an International Test Arena for Zero- and Low-Emission Aviation Signed

BERGEN, Norway, March 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In April 2024, Avinor and the Civil Aviation Authority entered a collaboration to establish Norway as an international test arena for zero- and low-emission aviation. On March 4, 2025, the first formal agreement for demonstration flights was signed at Bergen Airport, Flesland, with American aircraft manufacturer BETA Technologies and Bristow Norway AS, a subsidiary of Bristow Group Inc.

Demonstration Flights Start in Q3

The demonstration flights will be cargo flights without passengers, conducted using BETA's ALIA CX300 conventional take-off and landing (eCTOL) aircraft, which will be flown by Bristow Norway. The cargo flights will operate initially between Stavanger Airport and Bergen Airport, starting from Stavanger in late summer, with the entire route commencing later in the fall.  

BETA recently completed the production build of the ALIA aircraft that will perform these demonstrations. The aircraft, BETA's second production-intent vehicle, was manufactured at the company's scaled production factory in Burlington, Vermont, USA and has already received airworthiness certification for VFR, IFR, day and night flying from the FAA. It will arrive in Norway later this year.

Government Ambitions through the Aviation Strategy and the National Transport Plan

"The government's goal in the National Aviation Strategy and the National Transport Plan 2025–2036 (NTP) is to accelerate the transition to zero- and low-emission aviation. To achieve this, one billion kroner has been allocated in the NTP. The first major initiative is the establishment of Norway as an international test arena for zero- and low-emission aircraft", says Minister of Transport Jon-Ivar Nygård.

"With an aviation industry committed to reducing emissions, a decentralized network of airports of various sizes, a significant regional air transport market, a proactive aviation authority, and a supplier industry specializing in battery-electric propulsion systems and hydrogen technology, we have a strong foundation for the early adoption of new technologies," says the Minister of Transport.

Broad Involvement

The goal of the test arena is to gain knowledge, learning, and to prepare the ecosystem and set the foundation for scaling. This means involving airlines, manufacturers, supplier industries, the energy sector, and other stakeholders.

"Avinor's role is to facilitate the infrastructure at airports and make the airspace available for actors who wish to test various zero- and low-emission aircraft in an operational environment. We seek more knowledge about what different technologies and aircraft require in terms of airport facilities and necessary energy supply needs. For example, we currently have a procurement process underway for fast chargers for electric aircraft in Bergen and Stavanger to accommodate the first test flight," says Karianne Helland Strand, Executive Vice President for Sustainability, Concept, and Infrastructure Development at Avinor.

"Aviation is a safe mode of transport and a well-regulated sector. As the aviation authority, we will ensure that new technologies can be tested in accordance with regulations. We will learn how regulations and frameworks need to evolve to enable new technologies and concepts. Through this, we will build the necessary expertise early on for the solutions of tomorrow.

We are now establishing a connection point between the aviation industry and the support system in line with the government's objectives," says Director General of Civil Aviation, Lars Kobberstad.

"We see great value in real-world demonstrations, both to understand performance and mission fit, but also to bring local communities in what this technology offers," said Patrick Buckles, BETA's Sales Lead. "This year, as we operationalize this technology, we're excited to showcase how its low-cost, high-reliability operations can serve markets all over the world, including Norway."

"This regulatory sandbox evaluation project exemplifies our philosophy of crawl, walk, run for early adoption of new aviation technologies and solidifies the commitment to our vision to be a leader in innovative and sustainable aviation," said Dave Stepanek, Executive Vice President, Chief Transformation Officer for Bristow Group. "Bristow Norway is proud and honored to partner with this distinguished group of leaders in advanced air mobility." 

Several Milestones Throughout the Spring

Prior to activating the test arena, a supplier of chargers will be selected for both Stavanger and Bergen, with a deadline for the delivery of a charger to be installed at Stavanger Airport by June 1. Bergen Airport will have a mobile charger, which is to be delivered by August 15.

Forward-Looking Statements Disclosure
This press release contains "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements represent Bristow Group Inc.'s ("Bristow") current expectations or forecasts of future events. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "project," or "continue," or other similar words, and include statements regarding the expected benefits of the fleet support and training agreements disclosed herein. These statements are made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, reflect management's current views with respect to future events and therefore are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such forward-looking statements include statements regarding the capabilities, development, certification, marketing, and future operations of BETA electric aircraft and the anticipated benefits of the collaboration among Avinor, the Civil Aviation Authority Norway, BETA and Bristow. Bristow's actual results may vary materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements. Bristow cautions investors not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of the document in which they are made. Bristow disclaims any obligation or undertaking to provide any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in Bristow's expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which the forward-looking statement is based that occur after the date hereof, except as may be required by applicable law. You should not place undue reliance on Bristow's forward-looking statements because the matters they describe are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond Bristow's control. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict these matters or how they may affect us. We have included important factors in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Bristow's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 (the "Annual Report") which we believe over time, could cause Bristow's actual results, performance, or achievements to differ from the anticipated results, performance or achievements that are expressed or implied by Bristow's forward-looking statements. You should consider all risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Annual Report and in Bristow's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), all of which are accessible on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

About Avinor

Avinor is a wholly owned state limited company under the Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications and is responsible for 44 state-owned airports. Avinor has taken a leading role in reducing climate gas emissions from the aviation industry, including the development of electric aircraft, and supplying sustainable aviation fuel. Avinor provides safe and efficient travels for around 50 million passengers annually, half of which travel to and from Oslo Airport. Around 3,000 employees are responsible for planning, developing, and operating an efficient airport and air navigation service. Avinor is financed via airport charges and commercial sales. The air navigation services are organized as a subsidiary wholly owned by Avinor. Avinor is headquartered in Oslo.

About CAA Norway

CAA Norway's main objective is to contribute to safe, societally beneficial, and sustainable aviation. As an aviation authority, CAA Norway, in collaboration with EASA, will contribute to regulatory facilitation and learning. The purpose is to enable safe testing and phasing in of new technologies in an ecosystem. It will also enable the regulators to identify the need for regulatory changes and to ensure that approval and certification processes are well prepared and can be carried out efficiently. CAA Norway's main office is in Bodø in the northern part of Norway. 

About BETA Technologies

BETA Technologies is an electric aerospace company that is creating a new paradigm for transporting goods and people, making it greener, safer, and more efficient. To do this, we are building an electric transportation system that includes net-zero, all-electric aircraft and a cross-country, multimodal charging infrastructure to support various types of EVs.

Safety, simplicity, and pragmatism are at the heart of everything we do, from the design of our products to our approach to the market. The team brings experience from top global organizations, and takes a hands-on, multi-disciplinary approach to problem-solving and innovation. To foster a deep understanding of aircraft, engineering, and a connection to the mission, each BETA team member has the opportunity to become flight-certified at no cost.

About Bristow Group

Bristow Group Inc. is the leading global provider of innovative and sustainable vertical flight solutions. Bristow primarily provides aviation services to a broad base of offshore energy companies and government entities. Our aviation services include personnel transportation, search and rescue ("SAR"), medevac, fixed wing transportation, unmanned systems and ad-hoc helicopter services. Our business is comprised of three operating segments: Offshore Energy Services, Government Services and Other Services. Our energy customers charter our helicopters primarily to transport personnel to, from and between onshore bases and offshore production platforms, drilling rigs and other installations. Our government customers primarily outsource SAR activities whereby we operate specialized helicopters and provide highly trained personnel. Our other services include fixed wing transportation services through a regional airline and dry-leasing aircraft to third-party operators in support of other industries and geographic markets.

Bristow currently has customers in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, the Dutch Caribbean, the Falkland Islands, India, Ireland, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Spain, Suriname, Trinidad, the United Kingdom ("UK") and the United States ("U.S.").

SOURCE Bristow Group