A B.C. company is poised to become Canada含羞草研究社檚 first carrier of passengers and cargo using electric helicopter-like aircraft.
HeliJet on Tuesday (Oct. 31) announced from its Victoria heliport that it plans to add the cleaner-powered copters 含羞草研究社� known as electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft 含羞草研究社� to its operations in the coming years.
The commercial helicopter company has ordered ALIA eVTOL aircraft, which can hold five passengers and a pilot, from Vermont含羞草研究社檚 electric aerospace company BETA Technologies.
含羞草研究社淎s travellers increasingly look to destinations and transportation options that reflect their own commitments to environmental responsibility, we believe eVTOL service in the region will positively benefit local businesses (and) our tourism sector,含羞草研究社� said HeliJet CEO Danny Sitnam.
含羞草研究社淭he electric aircraft含羞草研究社檚 vertical take-off and landing capability will also have tremendous potential to enhance Helijet含羞草研究社檚 provision of emergency response, air ambulance and organ transfer services.含羞草研究社�
Sitnam said HeliJet currently moves organs by helicopter and transits radioisotope tracers from Vancouver to Victoria and Kelowna. Soon those medicine-carrying trips will be done quieter, at a much lower cost and with no carbon footprint, the CEO said.
Premier David Eby called B.C. a 含羞草研究社渜uiet champion含羞草研究社� when it comes to the aerospace industry, as he alluded to Kelowna and Abbotsford businesses. The premier added the electric helicopter tech can help improve life in First Nation, rural and other remote communities where fuel and maintenance costs make it expensive to deliver necessities with internal combustion vehicles.
含羞草研究社淲hat Danny and team at HeliJet are doing here is the level of innovation and response to the challenges around climate change that our province is known for,含羞草研究社� Eby said.
The electric airliners are about 10 times quieter than a traditional helicopter, according to BETA sales director Skye Carapetyan. His company wants to help address climate change by decarbonizing aviation.
含羞草研究社淚n addition to its net-zero emissions, the electric, simple design of our aircraft also offers more reliability and lower costs,含羞草研究社� Carapetyan said.
For an organization that upholds the federal mandate to expedite Canada含羞草研究社檚 transition to zero-emission aviation by 2050, Tuesday含羞草研究社檚 announcement was a 含羞草研究社渕onumental leap forward.含羞草研究社�
含羞草研究社淭his journey has put British Columbia and Canada on the map globally for our thought leadership and unified voice toward the social, economic and environmental pillars we demand as part of our advanced air mobility future,含羞草研究社� said JR Hammond, Canadian Advanced Air Mobility含羞草研究社檚 executive director.
HeliJet procuring the electric aircraft is a tangible commitment to advanced air mobility operation in Canada, Hammond added.
As he touted other moves on zero-carbon transportation while fielding media questions, Eby was asked about BC Ferries scaling back electrification plans for its Island Class vessels. The plan to convert six ferries to being fully battery-powered was contingent on provincial funding that hasn含羞草研究社檛 been allocated.
含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e working closely with BC Ferries to hit not just carbon targets but also customer service targets and pricing targets for British Columbians. There含羞草研究社檚 an issue around charging capacity at BC Ferries terminals that we含羞草研究社檙e working on with BC Ferries,含羞草研究社� Eby said.
The premier said the ferry operator has the ability to be a climate leader in its marine industry and battery technology from a Richmond firm could help it get there.
READ:
READ:
