Electric aircraft goes for test run at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport
On Monday, BETA Technologies, an electric aerospace company based in Burlington, Vermont, flew one of its "advanced air mobility" electric aircraft, known as the ALIA CTOL, in a demonstration flight. BETA Technologies is a manufacturer of electric aircraft and charging infrastructure.
The ALIA CTOL is a single pilot airplane. Its passenger model can transport five passengers, plus pilot, while its cargo model has 200 cubic feet of cargo space. Its range is 336 nautical miles and it has a maximum speed of 153 knots. The aircraft has conventional takeoff and landing.
According to the website of BETA Technologies, one electric airplane can be charged in less than an hour.
"Today's flight of the electric ALIA aircraft signified Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport's readiness to invest in the foundations and technology required for electric aircraft," the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport said in a news release on Monday.
Nicolas Pappalardo, CEO of Stolport, a company that oversees parking and ferry services at the airport, said the company is committed to electric aviation.
Pappalardo said Stolpart has bought Canada's first BETA "minicube" charger that will be used in operations at the airport. Starting on Tuesday, the company will have the capability to power electric planes with the charger, which can power electric aircraft as well as ground vehicles.
"Basically, we are enabling the cleaner, greener, quieter airport that we all envisioned," Pappalardo told reporters. "We're not just preparing for the future of aviation, we're here to power it."
Pappalardo said the purchase of the charger is significant. He said it means the company is committed to being on the "leading and greening edge of aviation" in Canada.
"This charger allows us to be on the map, on the charging network, to provide the electricity for those aircraft for the journey," he said.
Warren Askew, vice president, airport at PortsToronto, said electric aviation is the future and is no longer "fantastical." He said the airport has always been known for innovation in terms of sustainability and green operations.
"As a downtown airport, located just three kilometres away from downtown, within the context of a vibrant mixed waterfront, it's incumbent on us to do things differently," Askew said.
"It's incumbent on us to look for ways to mitigate our operational impact, by making investments and ways to make us cleaner, greener, and quieter."
James Maloney, MP for Etobicoke-Lakeshore, told reporters that electric aircraft is "state of the art" and will transform tourism, enhance delivery of medical supplies and improve economic opportunities.
"Today's demonstration shows the promise of emissions-free travel that connects communities, creates jobs, and keeps our city on the cutting edge of environmental technology," he said.
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