Sinclair Community College, a public college in Dayton, Ohio, has partnered with BETA Technologies, an aerospace company manufacturing next-generation technologies, purchasing one of BETA’s electric aircraft, the ALIA CTOL (conventional takeoff and landing aircraft), as well as a state-of-the-art flight simulator.
This reflects a shared commitment to advancing the future of aviation and establishing Ohio’s position in the industry by creating access and opportunities to workforce training with electric aviation technologies and newly developed programs.
Through this agreement, the partners will establish a pathway to conduct familiarization training for Sinclair students and clients in electric aviation operations and pilot/maintainer proficiencies.
With the acquisition of the ALIA CTOL and flight simulator, Sinclair will, with input from BETA, create a framework for students to earn familiarization training and credentials in electric aviation, and conduct research and development in autonomous technologies.
After acquisition, Sinclair will integrate the ALIA CTOL and flight simulator into its National UAS Training and Certification Center’s workforce training, research, and commercialization activities, with a focus on practical, hands-on familiarization and credentialing in electric aircraft systems, operations, and maintenance.
Sinclair will leverage its 138 years of academic expertise and nearly 100 years of experience in training and providing the necessary aviation workforce to support a constantly evolving industry.
The student training program will be developed with input from BETA Technologies, which is creating a formal training program for customers like UPS, Air New Zealand, United Therapeutics, Bristow, and more.
Sinclair is the first academic institution to acquire BETA products, which will enable the college to offer unparalleled academic and workforce education, familiarization training, and research experiences.
Both the aircraft and flight simulator will be housed at the Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport, leveraging Sinclair’s presence in the National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence (NAAMCE) and the facility’s notable capabilities supporting research, training, and public demonstrations.
“The recent purchase of a BETA flight simulator and BETA aircraft by Sinclair Community College is another great step toward advancing Dayton’s role as the future of flight,” said Representative Mike Turner.
“These systems will enable more students to gain critical training and education in advanced air mobility programs, which is essential for integration into the National Airspace System.”
Through the support of Congressman Mike Turner, Sinclair was able to secure $2 million in federal funding for this project. This is one of several Sinclair Community College projects to receive support from Turner.
“The growth of this market is essential not only for improving urban and rural transportation, cargo logistics, and emergency services, but also for driving economic progress by enabling new infrastructure, generating jobs, and fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors, as in this case through our partnership with BETA,” said Jeffrey A. Miller, senior vice-president of workforce development and consulting at Sinclair College.
“We are thrilled to establish this novel partnership to advance the interests of industry, government, and academia. We greatly appreciate Congressman Turner’s leadership and support for this vital Dayton Region program.”
The flight simulator was delivered to Sinclair in April 2025, and BETA will deliver the ALIA CTOL in early 2026.
The partners will collaborate to develop a credential-based program for Sinclair students and clients, to ensure they have the opportunity for hands-on experiences that familiarize individuals to meet the evolving standards and regulations of this new segment of the aviation industry.
May 2025
Sinclair will begin offerings focused on ground school and pilot orientations, leveraging simulation of electric aviation operations as soon as this summer.
Designed for utility, BETA’s ALIA aircraft can transport up to five passengers or 1,240 pounds of cargo. In addition to the ALIA CTOL, the company is also certifying and producing an electric vertical take-off and landing variant of the aircraft, the ALIA VTOL.
The CTOL and VTOL share more than 70 percent design commonality, lending to strong training and operational overlap. The company has been flying these aircraft for more than five years, completing manned transition of the VTOL and completing several long-range flight missions including a recent coast-to-coast trip covering more than 22 states across the U.S.
In November 2024, BETA rolled the first production-intent aircraft off the final assembly line at its nearly 200,000 square foot production facility in Burlington, Vermont—and has produced several more planes in the months since.
“For more than a century, Sinclair has been educating and equipping future leaders,” said Shawn Hall, BETA Technologies’ chief revenue officer.
“With the unique vision and motivation to acquire our AAM technologies and expand its aerospace program into this next era, it’s clear why they’ve been so successful. By layering our electric aviation technologies on top of Sinclair’s long standing excellence in aviation education, we’re not just familiarizing pilots and technicians with this new technology, we’re cultivating a new workforce for the future.”
In addition to aircraft, BETA has developed charge solutions that utilize the industry standard accepted by most air taxi and auto manufacturers around the world.
The company has installed chargers at more than 50 sites across the U.S., with deals in place to expand globally. One of BETA’s first chargers on the network is located at NAAMCE—and co-located where this training will occur.
“BETA Technologies’ decision to partner with Sinclair Community College demonstrates that Ohio’s long-term strategy to be the world’s premier hub for advanced air mobility is attracting more opportunities from
world-class companies that share our creativity and vision,” said JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef.
“With assistance from BETA’s cutting-edge flight simulators, Sinclair students will have unparalleled access to the latest electric aviation technology that will bring a competitive advantage to Ohio as we build out our workforce to meet the growing demand for pilots and technicians for the advanced air mobility enterprises that are choosing to invest here.”
Sinclair College’s National UAS Training and Certification Center represents the culmination of a focused vision dedicated to creating one of the most comprehensive and pioneering facilities for the advancement of the unmanned aerial systems (UAS) industry through education, training, consulting, applied research and development, commercialization and technology transfer, modeling and simulation, and data analytics.
Since 2008, Sinclair College has been at the forefront of UAS innovation, creating partnerships, developing leading curriculum, and investing significantly to establish a nationally prominent program dedicated to meeting the workforce needs of the growing UAS industry.
Together, Sinclair and BETA will empower current and future aerospace professionals with the knowledge, skills, and certifications needed to lead a rapidly evolving aviation landscape, reinforcing Sinclair’s position as an international leader in aerospace training.
This press release was prepared and distributed by BETA Technologies.