Waterloo researchers are helping to clear the regulatory runway for electric planes and transport the Canadian aviation sector to new heights.
University of Waterloo is leading the charge in Canada's electric aviation evolution.
Backed by Government of Canada funding, the experts at the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics (WISA) and Waterloo Wellington Flight Centre (WWFC) achieved a historic milestone when their tiny, two-seater Pipistrel Velis Electro made its inaugural flight. The Velis Electro is certified to fly in Europe and is being evaluated with an end goal to become Canada’s first type-certified electric plane.
Thanks to the WISA team’s efforts, this is just the beginning of electrically propelled flight in the country. Working with WWFC staff, WISA researchers have demonstrated that the Velis Electro can pass each stage of its flight program under demanding Canadian conditions. Their tests at the Region of Waterloo International Airport are providing conclusive evidence that electric planes can help reverse a serious pilot shortage in Canada while making the aviation industry more environmentally sustainable.
Read more at University of Waterloo