Blog

Throughout a pilot’s training, they spend lots of time working on their flying skills in the practice area. When nice weather comes around and all the planes are in the air, it’s not always easy to keep a safe distance from everyone. This blog post explains the factors that lead to the formation of airborne hotspots, and discusses how pilots can stay safe around them.

Thank you to the many people and partners who helped move our electric aviation project forward over the last five years. The following list illustrates the diverse range of people involved. We also thank the people who are not named but contributed in their own ways.

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.

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

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).

The Pipistrel Velis Electro comes with a charger designed for the European 400-volt electrical system. This means that a special transformer needs to be installed at any North American airport where the Velis is to charge. (Note: Pipistrel is developing an adapter which will allow the Velis to be charged using CCS chargers, which will remove this hurdle. CCS is one of the most widely used electric vehicle charging standards.)

The electric plane fleet expanded across the country in 2024. Canada’s first Pipistrel Velis Electro was flown by Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics (WISA) researchers and Waterloo Wellington Flight Centre (WWFC) personnel in 2023. Waterloo has added a second Velis Electro for 2024 (with financial support from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario) and a third Velis Electro was purchased by Sealand Aviation on Vancouver Island (with financial support from Clean BC)