Beta Technologies cockpit design makes flying more accessible to novices

The cockpit of Beta Technologies' all-electric Alia CX300 may signal a broader shift in how aircraft are designed and who can fly them. A recent first-hand account of a flight in the aircraft, piloted by Chris Caputo, describes a layout that even a person with no flight experience could operate after minimal familiarisation.

The CX300's controls include a console with a thumb dial for adjusting speed and climb rate, digital touchscreen displays, and a four-axis joystick for each of the two front seats. The joystick handles left and right inputs for roll, and up and down for pitch. Caputo performed manoeuvres such as takeoff and landing, but the simplicity of the controls allowed the passenger to take over briefly.

The design contrasts with older cockpits, which the account describes as a menagerie of buttons and switches. Modern streamlined cockpits, by comparison, are said to approach the complexity of a car.

Beta Technologies also runs an in-house flight training programme for employees, from engineers to social media managers. Approximately 700 employees were learning to fly as of June, according to Noah Ranallo, who leads standards and evaluation for Alia training. About 35 full- and part-time flight instructors, including Ranallo, conduct the training. Some participants have progressed to Beta's CX300 demonstration team, and a few have gone on to fly professionally.