Harbour Air Seaplanes (YB, Vancouver Coal Harbour) operated its first electric test flight last week when a battery-powered 62-year-old, six-passenger DHC-2 Beaver seaplane flew along the Fraser River near Vancouver International airport for 15 minutes.
Retrofitted with a 750hp electric motor, C-FJOS (msn 1030) took flight on December 11 and was piloted by Greg McDougall, Harbour Air's founder and chief executive, the AFP news agency reported.
“For me, that flight was just like flying a Beaver, but it was a Beaver on electric steroids. I actually had to back off on the power,” he said. “Our goal is to actually electrify the entire fleet.”
The airline, which carries half a million passengers a year between Vancouver, Whistler ski resort, and nearby islands and coastal communities, worked with Australian engineering company magniX in designing the motor.
“This proves that commercial aviation in all-electric form can work,” said Roei Ganzarski, chief executive of magniX.
The technology will bring significant cost savings for airlines as well as zero emissions, he predicted, adding: “This signifies the start of the electric aviation age.”
Besides fuel efficiency, McDougall said that Harbour Air would save millions in costs as electric motors need “drastically” less maintenance.
The aircraft can fly for around 160 kilometres on lithium battery power, according to Ganzarski, which is sufficient for the majority of the carrier's short-haul flights.
However, it will take at least two years before it can start electrifying its fleet of 40 seaplanes, as the "e-plane" needs further tests and the electric motor must be approved and certified by regulators.
According to its website, Harbour Air operates twenty-two DHC-3s, fourteen DHC-2, three DHC-6s, and one Cessna Aircraft Company Grand Caravan EX.
