This weekend marked another exciting achievement for Sealand Flight as our Pipistrel Velis Electro (PIP) completed its first point-to-point flight! With our Chief Flight Instructor, Ian Lamont, at the controls, PIP flew from Campbell River Airport to Courtenay Airpark in just under 30 minutes, landing with more than 50% battery remaining.
The occasion? An invitation to showcase the Velis Electro at the Courtenay Airpark Open House. It was the perfect opportunity to demonstrate the capabilities of our electric aircraft, and it made quite the impression on attendees.
While this milestone flight is a significant step towards our goals, we’re not fully there yet. With current infrastructure challenges—no charging facilities at Courtenay Airpark and insufficient range for a return trip—we had to disassemble and trailer PIP back to Campbell River.
Looking forward, our vision is to establish charging stations at key locations, enabling seamless round trips and even greater operational flexibility. Each step like this brings us closer to a zero-emissions future in aviation.
