Story ID: 
FAA Certifies Hartzell’s First Electric Engine Propeller
By: Hanneke Weitering
Caption: Hartzell designed the propeller for Beta Technologies’ electric aircraft
Word Count: 882
Hartzell Propeller has become the first company to achieve FAA certification for a propeller designed specifically for advanced air mobility (AAM), the company announced on July 21. The Ohio-based manufacturer developed the propeller in collaboration with Beta Technologies and tested it exclusively on the latter’s electric aircraft to obtain FAA Part 35 type certification. 
According to Beta, the propeller has undergone thousands of hours of ground and flight testing on the Alia CX300 electric airplane over the past four years. Beta is also using the propeller for its Alia 250 eVTOL model. Although designed for Beta’s aircraft, Hartzell intends to make the propeller available to other manufacturers of AAM aircraft with similar electric propulsion systems.
“Hartzell Propeller is very pleased to work with Beta Technologies on this AAM breakthrough development,” said Hartzell president JJ Frigge. “Our design specifically for Beta Technologies is a five-bladed, carbon fiber, ground-adjustable fixed pitch propeller that will have future applications for the entire AAM industry.”
Both the Alia CX300 and Alia 250 have a single Hartzell propeller mounted on the aft end for forward propulsion, and these are powered by Beta’s own H500A electric engines. The eVTOL model has four additional two-bladed, top-mounted vertical lift propellers, each powered by a Beta V600A electric motor. 
Just about every major aircraft manufacturer sources propellers from Hartzell, which has been in business for more than 100 years. It began dipping its toes in the AAM sector around 2018, when it partnered with Eviation to develop propellers for the Alice electric commuter airplane. 
“With its decades of experience across all types of aircraft, Hartzell Propeller has understood from the beginning the unique challenges and opportunities of electric aviation,” said Beta founder and CEO Kyle Clark. “Their engineering precision and deep certification experience have assisted us as we bring this aircraft to market and walk through our own certification steps. We’re proud to have been their counterpart on this project, and look forward to getting this certified propeller in the air as we continue the process of certifying our electric engines, as well as our Alia CTOL [conventional takeoff and landing] and VTOL.”
Beta aims to certify the Alia CX300 this year, followed by the Alia 250 eVTOL in 2026. The company is currently conducting for-credit certification testing with the FAA. It has been conducting extensive, real-world flights with the Alia CX300 under a market survey provision permitted by the special airworthiness certificate rules. Earlier this year, the Alia CX300 embarked on a European tour, conducting demonstration flights in Ireland and at the Paris Air Show.
Hartzell Propeller has become the first company to achieve FAA certification for a propeller designed specifically for advanced air mobility (AAM), the company announced on July 21. The Ohio-based manufacturer developed the propeller in collaboration with Beta Technologies and tested it exclusively on the latter’s electric aircraft to obtain FAA Part 35 type certification. 
According to Beta, the propeller has undergone thousands of hours of ground and flight testing on the Alia CX300 electric airplane over the past four years. Beta is also using the propeller for its Alia 250 eVTOL model. Although designed for Beta’s aircraft, Hartzell intends to make the propeller available to other manufacturers of AAM aircraft with similar electric propulsion systems.
“Hartzell Propeller is very pleased to work with Beta Technologies on this AAM breakthrough development,” said Hartzell president JJ Frigge. “Our design specifically for Beta Technologies is a five-bladed, carbon fiber, ground-adjustable fixed pitch propeller that will have future applications for the entire AAM industry.”
Both the Alia CX300 and Alia 250 have a single Hartzell propeller mounted on the aft end for forward propulsion, and these are powered by Beta’s own H500A electric engines. The eVTOL model has four additional two-bladed, top-mounted vertical lift propellers, each powered by a Beta V600A electric motor. 
Just about every major aircraft manufacturer sources propellers from Hartzell, which has been in business for more than 100 years. It began dipping its toes in the AAM sector around 2018, when it partnered with Eviation to develop propellers for the Alice electric commuter airplane. 
“With its decades of experience across all types of aircraft, Hartzell Propeller has understood from the beginning the unique challenges and opportunities of electric aviation,” said Beta founder and CEO Kyle Clark. “Their engineering precision and deep certification experience have assisted us as we bring this aircraft to market and walk through our own certification steps. We’re proud to have been their counterpart on this project, and look forward to getting this certified propeller in the air as we continue the process of certifying our electric engines, as well as our Alia CTOL [conventional takeoff and landing] and VTOL.”
Beta aims to certify the Alia CX300 this year, followed by the Alia 250 eVTOL in 2026. The company is currently conducting for-credit certification testing with the FAA. It has been conducting extensive, real-world flights with the Alia CX300 under a market survey provision permitted by the special airworthiness certificate rules. Earlier this year, the Alia CX300 embarked on a European tour, conducting demonstration flights in Ireland and at the Paris Air Show.