Blog

Three UW aviation students joined WISA’s Paul Parker and the WWFC team to put the Pipistrel Velis Electro through its first set of Canadian ground runs. The goal was to measure how much mission time or training time is available in the e-plane under different power settings. Before flying the aircraft in the air, these ground runs will give pilots a good indication of how much time they can plan to use.  

As many upper-year aviation students complete their final study terms at the University of Waterloo, the transition from university to the aviation industry can be difficult and demanding. To ease this process, the University of Waterloo Aviation Society (UWAS) came together to create the first Professional Development Day specifically targeted for Waterloo aviation students.

My name is Aiden, a second-year Geography and Aviation student and a member to the Waterloo Warriors Varsity Track team and the University of Waterloo’s sports business association.  It is an honour to share my aviation experiences with you, and I aim to inspire you to achieve dreams beyond your imagination and leave a lasting impact through your legacy.

Dr. Paul Parker, Associate Director of WISA and Professor Emeritus of the University of Waterloo, represents the environmental pillar at WISA—one of three that WISA is built upon.

A behind-the-scenes look at the first UWAS PD Day.

What should we name the first certified electric plane to come to Canada?

Complex Problems Require Multidisciplinary Work

For many - including Dr. Elizabeth Irving, a professor in the School of Optometry and Vision Science - collaborating with researchers in different disciplines means you are sometimes surprised by where life leads you.

In aviation, the plane gets all the attention and photo ops. However, it does not work alone. Chargers may be overlooked, but they are essential.

Before you can fly an electric plane, like the Pipistrel Velis Electro, you need a source of electricity that matches the input needs of the battery and e-plane system. It sounds simple to plug in, charge and go. However, when an industry is new, there are lots of questions and decisions to get started.

The Sustainable Aeronautics Summit at Waterloo Region International Airport heralded the call by leaders in industry, government, and academia to create innovative sustainable aeronautics futures on Wednesday, 5 October 2022.

Two days later, the University of Waterloo demonstrated its commitment toward the sustainable aviation goal with the arrival of the first Pipistrel Velis Electro in Canada. (Admittedly, the whole process has taken over two years with discussions, applications, rejections, revisions, selection and final refinements, so the two day period is primarily good luck based on many earlier actions.)

Catherine Conway is the CEO and Chief Flying Instructor at AV8 Aero in Australia. When an e-plane (the Pipistrel Alpha Electro) arrived at her home airport (Parafield, South Australia) she was ready, not only to fly, but also to inspect and maintain the Electro.