Beta hiring workforce to build next-generation aircraft

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – South Burlington start-up Beta Technologies is looking to soar in the next few years by debuting the first FAA-certified electric aircraft in the world. But to really take off, the company needs to hire hundreds more workers.

Buzzing and whirring echoes through BETA Technologies’ new production facility in South Burlington, where their new electric aircraft will be built

“We’re going to be having aircraft roll out the line by the end of the year,” said the company’s Blain Newton. He says the facility will become a whole lot busier and a whole lot noisier in the coming months. “Every one of these assembly cells will have an aircraft in some state of production by the end of this year.”

And a whole lot closer to realizing their dream of electrifying the aviation industry. Seven years of research and development has led up to this moment where they’re finally ready to flip the switch into production. “We believe we’ll have the first certified electric aircraft in the world,” Newton said.

He says they’re on pace to have that happen next year for their fixed-wing plane and about a year after that for their vertical takeoff and landing model. He says because their planes are cheaper to maintain and fuel, there’s an “insatiable desire” for them already. “We think we’re going to be capacity-constrained in this market, not demand-constrained. We won’t be able to build them fast enough,” Newton said..

But before their sales can really take flight, they need to dot their i’s and cross their t’s with the regulators and themselves. Some of the wings in production at the plant right now aren’t even going to go on an aircraft. They’re test versions — not only for the FAA — but to make their manufacturing processes the most efficient it can be, because the goal is to get a lot of planes coming off the line.

“We expect an aircraft a day to come out of this facility when we’re at scale, which will be over the next several years. Clearly, we’re going to need a lot of people to help us do that,” Newton said.

They don’t use a lot of robots, so they need skilled workers to turn out prime planes. Their hiring push starts in earnest next month with a hiring day on April 14th. That’s where Willa Clark will be looking for eager employees.

“Highly-motivated, passionate, excited people is what we’re looking for,” said Clark, who literally grew up in the company. Her father, Kyle Clark, is the co-founder. She’s been working with them since she was a teenager. Now, she wants to use her experience to recruit the manufacturers who will make BETA’s electric aircraft vision become a reality. “We’re hoping to tap into the talent pipeline here in Vermont, and then if we need to, then look outside of the state.”

Clark says they can provide the training workers need in-house. She says with pay starting at $26 an hour — and a slew of other benefits — they haven’t had a problem finding workers yet. “We’re aware that that could be a concern in the future,” she said.

Newton calls the skilled builders of Vermont their “secret weapon” and says they have no plans to jet out of the Green Mountains.

Reporter Cat Viglienzoni: Is the goal then that all the planes will continue to be made in Vermont?

Blain Newton: For the foreseeable future, for sure.

He says they will still use the Plattsburgh Airport for finishing painting, flight testing, and delivery to customers, because airspace there is less busy.

Beta’s hiring day is April 14th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at their production facility on Davinci Drive in South Burlington. Participants are required to register in advance.