The world's first all-electric seaplane completes its first flight in Canada

Greg McDougall, CEO of Harbor Air Seaplanes, headquartered in British Columbia, drove the world ’s first electric maritime commercial aircraft on December 10, according to the Canadian Globe and Mail Successfully completed the first official flight. This is a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver. The plane took off from the Fraser River south of Vancouver International Airport. The flight distance was about 16 kilometers. Previous test flights had been about 60 to 90 meters. De Havilland's traditional internal combustion engine has been replaced by a 750-horsepower electric engine developed by magniX.

The successful test flight of Canada ’s Harbour Airways allowed the company to participate in a global competition to develop electric flights and reduce passenger aircraft emissions. In a statement in response to the test flight, Transport Canada stated that the federal government firmly believes that electrification of transport is an important part of Canada ’s transition to a low-carbon economy. The Federal Department stated that it provides regulatory and certification advice to all industry partners, including Harbor Airlines, "seeking to develop innovative aviation concepts," but there are currently no specific standards for electric aircraft.