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On June 10, 2020, the Pipistrel Velis Electro became the world’s first electric aircraft to receive type certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Authority (EASA). Five years later, it remains the only EASA-certified electric plane, with over 100 units flying in more than 30 countries. Canada is currently evaluating the Velis Electro, which is already operating in Waterloo, Ontario, and Campbell River, British Columbia. These aircraft are used for low-carbon flight training and local sightseeing, with over 400 flights completed in Canada. Transport Canada has created a regulatory sandbox to support electric aviation, and proposed amendments to flight training regulations are under review. As Canada moves toward broader certification, early adopters like Waterloo Wellington Flight Centre and Sealand Flight are leading the way in training the next generation of electric pilots.

Catherine Check made Canadian aviation history by becoming the first person to complete her entire initial flight training, from first lesson to solo flight, exclusively in an electric aircraft, the Pipistrel Velis Electro, at Sealand Flight on Vancouver Island.

Discover how Navpreet pursued the International Aviation Sustainability Certification to understand the industry's role in climate change and broaden their perspective on global sustainability.

Aviation students are increasingly seeking ways to pursue their passion without the emissions associated with conventional flight training. Electric planes (e-planes) are being proposed as a solution, but how big of a reduction can they achieve?

My immersion into aviation led me to join the Collaborative Aeronautics Program (CAP), where I became part of the first cohort of students learning about the fundamentals of aviation. Through the CAP, I not only gained a solid understanding of aviation systems but also learned the importance of collaboration within the field.

Flight schools earn revenue when planes are flying, so an important question is how many hours can they expect an e-plane to fly in a day?Future batteries and future e-planes offer bigger promises, but let’s look at the world’s only type of certified electric trainer on the market today, the Pipistrel Velis Electro with its second-generation battery.

Pramoth's personal journey being the first to receive the ‘International Aviation Sustainability Certification.

July brought record high temperatures to many parts of Canada. Even the normally cool Vancouver Island had six days in a row above 30°C at the Campbell River airport (CYBL), including a new record of 33.4°C on July 8th.Did these hot temperatures affect the performance of the e-plane based there? Did battery temperatures rise unexpectedly? 

When an electric plane is designed for pilot training, one of the first questions is “Can you complete the standard lessons in the e-plane?”.

Circuit training is one of the core activities in learning to become a pilot. Pilots need to learn the skills to take-off, fly a standard circuit pattern, and land safely. Last year, we reported completing 5-7 circuits in a typical flight in the Velis Electro before landing with a reserve of at least 30% SOC, State of Charge, in the battery (equivalent to how much fuel remains in the tank).