Sealand’s first commercial training flight using an all-electric plane took off in June, after getting the green light from Transport Canada 

Electric aviation is taking flight in Canada.

Sealand Flight, a flight training school based on Vancouver Island, received clearance from Transport Canada earlier this year to allow licensed pilots to fly a Pipistrel Velis Electro, a two-seat electric plane.

The Pipistrel Velis Electro is designed for flight training. It’s also the first certified electric airplane in the world under European standards.

The electric plane hasn’t yet received full certification to be flown in Canada. However, as part of an Electric Airplane Trial Program created by Transport Canada in 2022, Sealand obtained special clearance to start flight training with the Pipistrel Velis Electro. The special clearance was instated last month.

The Transport Canada program aims to evaluate the capabilities and limitations of electric aircraft.

Sealand is the second flight school to have been selected by Transport Canada for the trial program. The first school was the Waterloo Wellington Flight Centre (WWFC) in Ontario.

The WWFC is using its Pipistrel Velis Electro plane as more as a “research vessel”, explains Mike Andrews, Sealand pilot and spokesperson in an interview with Electric Autonomy

In contrast, Sealand Flight is flying the Pipistrel Velis Electro commercially for the first time in Canada. (According to Canadian aviation regulations, “flight training service means a commercial air service that is operated for the purpose of conducting flight training.”)

“[We have an] open invitation to almost anyone interested in flying an electric airplane. It’s quite remarkable,” says Andrews.

Operating an electric plane

Since its first flight, Sealand has been using the electric plane almost daily. The aircraft is used for the initial stages of flight training. This includes all lessons up to a student pilot’s first solo flight.

“As far as the hands and feet, it flies exactly the same as any other airplane,” says Andrews. “When you push the power lever up and power is applied, you can take off. However, it’s pretty cool how instantaneous it is and how quiet it is.”

The motivation behind Sealand’s participation in the trial dates back to 2019 when Nancy Marshall, Sealand’s operations manager, discovered the emerging European electric airplane movement. Intrigued by the potential of electric planes, she approached Transport Canada to explore the possibility of bringing them to Canada.

According to Canada’s Aviation Climate Action Plan 2022–2030, the federal government is committed to supporting the adoption of green aerospace technologies as part of its vision for achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and maintaining global leadership and competitiveness in the sector. This commitment includes investments in future training programs that incorporate electric aircraft.

“[Flight training] is where [electric planes] are almost an exact replacement for the traditional aircraft because the flights are a fair bit shorter and it’s more just about the basics,” says Andrews.

The Pipistrel Velis Electro can fly for about 50 minutes. It takes about an hour to recharge between flights.

One of the main things pilots need to focus on while flying the plane is its power and knowing where to charge.

“Like with an electric vehicle, you have to be conscious of power consumption,” explains Andrews.

Sealand’s mandate requires the plane to land with a 30 per cent battery reserve, says Andrews.

Installing charging infrastructure

Setting up the necessary charging infrastructure for electric planes presents significant challenges. Recognizing these, Sealand partnered with BC Hydro, the local utility provider, to get the necessary support.

“While similar in concept, aircraft charging is different from the charging of electric vehicles,” says a spokesperson for the utility to Electric Autonomy via email.

“The technology is not the same and requires different systems and integration. As well, locating charging infrastructure in an airport facility has unique logistic and operational challenges. Our work with Sealand will help support analysis and considerations for other airport facilities in B.C.”

Currently, Sealand operates one BC Hydro charger in Campbell River, where it houses its electric plane. They are restricted to local flights around Campbell River when training unlicensed pilots, as per Transport Canada’s guidelines.

However, Sealand plans to install three more chargers in Courtenay, Qualicum Beach and Powell River to support licensed pilots flying. In addition to training, the flight school also offers air tours and the option to rent its airplanes.

BC Hydro study

Sealand’s short-term goal is to establish a local network of chargers to create a little cross-country loop on Vancouver Island. The longer-term vision is to expand its network of chargers more broadly.

To that end, BC Hydro is also funding a study aimed at helping Sealand Flight understand its current charging capabilities and envision the infrastructure needed for future expansion at local airports. This study is separate from the Transport Canada trial program.

“We want to hop around to different local municipalities,” says Andrews. “We’re going to need charging infrastructure in each one of those locations, and they are helping us with that.”

The utility provider is also assisting Sealand with studying the carbon footprint of electric planes compared to traditional planes.

“That’s a big thing that even Transport Canada was interested in learning about. If Transport Canada goes ahead and allows all flight schools to operate these electric airplanes, is it really going to have a huge impact? Is it going to be beneficial for humanity overall in the long run?” says Andrews.

Future of electric aviation

Looking to the future of where electric aviation is heading, Andrews is confident that electrification within the industry will continue to develop positively.

In Canada alone, there are several companies, such as Ontario-based Diamond Aircraft and Vancouver-based Harbour Airlines, that are developing electric-powered aircraft. Montreal-based CAE is also working on electric conversion kits for its basic trainer light aircraft.

Outside of Canada, many European manufacturers such as the Slovenia-Italy-based Pipistel as well as U.S. manufacturers, such as Joby Aviation, are committed to advancing electrification in aviation, too.

“There’s a lot of momentum behind it. It’s definitely coming, but it’s still in the building phase,” says Andrews.

One important piece to all this development is obtaining regulatory approval for electric aircraft.

In aviation, airplanes cannot operate in the air until they have received regulatory certification. Aviation regulations and certifications are developed and approved in Canada by Transport Canada.

“There is obviously due diligence that has to come when there’s new technologies that they’re being put in place,” explains Andrews. “Once we start getting that framework laid it will be easier to adopt newer and newer technologies.”

In addition, collaboration between nations is also crucial.

“If we have an aircraft certified in Europe, it should be a smoother process to get it certified in Canada, and then with the FAA in the US and so on,” says Andrews.

Fortunately, efforts are underway to standardize regulations across countries.

“There are hurdles and challenges that we are discovering and learning about but the progress is still continuing. Everybody’s excited. There’s nobody who’s really negative about this and that’s the really cool piece,” says Andrews.

Sealand’s growing fleet

As for Sealand’s future plans, the flight training school hopes to grow its electric fleet and wants to start replacing its older aircraft with electric alternatives.

“We hope to start developing this network,” says Andrews. “Seeing just the overall excitement around it and desire for electric airplanes to start coming into local airports is huge.”

“The excitement is seeing that there are many, many leaders who are proving that the technology is capable of fulfilling certain profiles of aircraft, and if we keep working together, then we make that more and more possible.”