Sealand Flight takes the Pipistrel Velis Electro to the skies for Canada’s first-ever commercial electric flight.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (June 14, 2024) – Canadian Advanced Air Mobility (CAAM) is proud to highlight the remarkable progress made by Sealand Flight in their journey towards sustainable aviation, by integrating the fully-electric Pipistrel Velis Electro into their flight training program. This culminates in Canada’s first-ever commercial flight in an electric aircraft, marking a significant step forward for the future of aviation training in Canada.
Sealand Flight, located in Campbell River, BC, embarked on this new journey in 2022 to incorporate the Pipistrel Velis Electro into their training fleet. As one of the first flight schools in Canada approved by Transport Canada for a trial program, Sealand Flight has showcased their commitment to innovation and sustainability in aviation.
Milestones in Sealand Flight’s Journey:
Factory Maintenance Course: In March 2024, Sealand Flight hosted a comprehensive factory maintenance course for the Pipistrel Velis Electro in Campbell River. This course, led by Pipistrel engineers, included participants from Transport Canada, Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AMEs), Apex Aircraft, and other industry members, providing vital knowledge for maintaining and operating the electric aircraft.
Maintenance Approval: Sealand Aviation, Sealand Flight’s sister Aircraft Maintenance organization, became the first in Canada to receive official approval to maintain the Pipistrel electric aircraft, ensuring that maintenance expertise and support infrastructure are in place.
Historic Commercial Flight: Today, Sealand Flight conducted Canada’s first commercial flight in an electric aircraft. This landmark event featured an introductory flight lesson in the Pipistrel Velis Electro, allowing the student to handle the controls under the guidance of a flight instructor. This event signifies the beginning of a new chapter in aviation, allowing for revenue generation to occur for flight schools across Canada
Future of Aviation Training: Following this milestone, Sealand Flight will begin training several new students from the introductory stage to the solo stage using the Pipistrel Velis Electro. This phased approach is the first part of Transport Canada’s electric aircraft evaluation program. Subsequently, Transport Canada and Sealand Flight will determine the feasibility of further student use, including flying to Sealand’s other locations around Vancouver Island.
“We have immense gratitude for the collaborative efforts of our industry’s pursuit towards sustainability. We are overjoyed to be the first to offer electric flight commercially, though it would not be possible without the efforts of many innovators,” says Mike Andrews of Sealand Flight. “While it will still be a challenging pathway to navigate moving forwards, the doorway to implementing commercial sustainable aviation technologies has now firmly been opened.”
“This initiative by Sealand Flight is more than just a step towards cleaner skies; it is a beacon for the future of aviation training in Canada,” said JR Hammond, Executive Director of CAAM. “By demonstrating the practical application and benefits of electric aircraft, Sealand is helping to pave the way for widespread adoption of sustainable aviation technologies. This progress aligns with CAAM’s mission to create a connected, sustainable aviation ecosystem in Canada.”
For more information, please visit Sealand Flight’s website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
About CAAM
Canadian Advanced Air Mobility (CAAM) is the federal not-for-profit organization representing the voice of the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) industry in Canada. CAAM has partnered with over 200+ organizations including industry, academia, private capital and all three levels of government to launch projects aimed at expediting the operations of the AAM industry in Canada. CAAM was founded in partnership with Canada’s leading federal research and development organization, the National Research Council of Canada (NRC).
Media Contacts
David Dong
Marketing Manager
506-961-7728
Mike Andrews
Pilot and Spokesperson
250-951-4856
Rachel Douglass
Communications Manager
316-285-3141
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