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Beta Technologies’ ALIA CX300 electric aircraft visited Vancouver in November, marking a key step toward sustainable aviation in Canada. Helijet, Beta’s first Canadian customer, plans to integrate e-planes into its fleet, supported by WISA research on route optimization. With growing charger networks and certification progress, Canada is moving closer to an electrified future in the skies.

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.

Canadian aviation history was made as three generations of e-planes took to the skies above the Fraser River on 6 August 2025 to fly in formation. The trio consisted of the first Pipistrel Alpha Electro in Canada, Sealand Flight’s Pipistrel Velis Electro and Harbour Air’s retrofitted eBeaver. This illustrates the successful electrification of an advanced ultralight, a two-seat trainer and a small regional passenger plane, respectively.

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.

Electric planes are about to be approved for flight training in Canada. This major milestone in Canadian aviation history comes into force on 11 July 2025 when revisions to the Canadian Aviation Regulations and Standards (CARS) will permit electric planes to be used for pilot training. It marks the beginning of an electric era where low carbon electricity enables flight schools to offer pilot training with lower emissions, an important sustainability step for the carbon intensive aviation industry.

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.