This small e-plane is venturing beyond Campbell River for the first time to hit the skies above Qualicum Beach on the afternoon of Friday, Aug. 2 (Sealand Flight Ltd.)

By Ian Holmes

eplane

Historic all-electric plane to take off from Qualicum Beach

Aug 2, 2024 | 11:40 AM

QUALICUM BEACH — A small e-plane will take a spin in the skies above Qualicum Beach Friday afternoon, the first such flight the mid Island region has ever seen.

A two-seated European made Pipistrel Velis Electro plane is scheduled to be flown by Sealand Flight Ltd. instructor Mike Andrews from Qualicum Beach Airport, with an expected take-off at 3:30 p.m.

He said the emission-free aircraft weighing a little under a thousand pounds hopefully signals the future of commercial and recreational aviation in Canada.

“And that’s really what I think we’re aiming to showcase is just how quiet this airplane is going to be, the fact there are no emissions. I think we’re going to do a couple circuits around the airport and probably fly around town a little bit,” Andrews told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Sealand Flight Ltd., a Campbell River based flight training school, started using its only electric plane in the spring, part of an ongoing Transport Canada pilot project.

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The company hopes to expand technology beyond Campbell River Airport to secure required charging requirements at other small regional airports.

Sealand Flight Ltd. at its home base at Campbell River Airport. (Sealand Flight Ltd.)

Andrews said their e-plane plane has a maximum fyling time range of about 45 minutes.

“It’s similar to driving an electrical vehicle versus an internal combustion vehicle where everything that’s going on is software and electrical systems all working together as opposed to mechanical and internal combustion.”

A third of the funding for Sealand Flight Ltd. all-electric plane was provided by a B.C. government administered CleanBC grant, Andrews noted.

Vancouver based Harbour Air Seaplanes has been operating a fully electric ebeaver for non-commercial test flights since late in 2019.

Helijet International, also based in Vancouver, announced last fall it placed an order for an electric vertical take-off and landing helicopter.

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Ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes