'World's first' fully-electric commercial flight takes off
An all-electric powered seaplane has taken flight in Vancouver, Canada, in what the operators describe as a "world first" for the aviation industry, BBC News reported.
The short test flight by Harbour Air and magniX involved a six-passenger aircraft fitted with an electric motor.
The companies said it was a first step to building the "world's first all-electric commercial fleet".
The push to electric could help slash carbon emissions in the high-polluting aviation sector.
"This historic flight signifies the start of the third era in aviation - the electric age," Harbour Air and magniX said in a statement.
The flight involved a six-passenger DHC-2 de Havilland Beaver with a 750-horsepower (560 kW) magni500 propulsion system.
Launched at the Paris Air Show earlier this year, Australian company magniX said its propulsion system aims to provide a "clean and efficient way to power airplanes".
Canadian seaplane operator Harbour Air hopes to electrify its entire fleet by 2022, provided it secures safety and regulatory approvals.
News.Az
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