World-first electric commercial flight claim

North American seaplane airline Harbour Air has claimed a successful flight of the world’s first all-electric commercial aircraft.

It says the inaugural flight of the ePlane in Vancouver is the first step towards the world’s first all-electric commercial fleet.

It’s a six-passenger DHC-2 de Havilland Beaver with a 560kW Magni500 propulsion system.

The pilot was Harbour Air chief executive officer and founder Greg McDougall.

“I am incredibly proud of Harbour Air’s leadership role in re-defining safety and innovation in the aviation and seaplane industry,” he says.

“Canada has long held an iconic role in the history of aviation, and to be part of this incredible world-first milestone is something we can all be really proud of.”

Earlier this year, Harbour Air announced its partnership

with MagniX and the company’s intention to build the world’s first completely electric commercial seaplane fleet.

The Magni500, unveiled at the Paris Air Show in June, is a high-power-density electric propulsion system that provides a clean and efficient way to power airplanes.

“We’ve launched the electric era of aviation,” MagniX chief executive officer Roei Ganzarski says.

“The transportation industry and specifically the aviation segment that has been, for the most part, stagnant since the late 1930s, is ripe for a massive disruption. Now we are proving that low-cost, environmentally friendly, commercial electric air travel can be a reality in the very near future.”

MagniX and Harbour Air will now begin the certification and approval process for the propulsion system and the retrofitting of aircraft.

Once the certification is complete, the rest of the fleet can be magnified with MagniX’s all-electric propulsion technology.

Harbour Air has more than 40 aircraft and offers up to 300 daily scheduled flights, scenic tours, adventure packages, and private flights carrying about 500,000 passengers annually.