Seaplane airline Harbour Air will be converting its fleet of 45 de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver aircraft to electric power. The government of British Columbia has voiced support for Harbour Air’s electrification program in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Harbour Air has signed a letter of intent to purchase 50 magni650 electric motors from magniX, an aviation propulsion company based in Everett, Washington. Under the agreement, magniX will work with Harbour Air toward certification with Transport Canada, and acquire supplemental certificates in the U.S. and Canada for installation of the motors.
The first flight of the eBeaver test aircraft was made in 2019 and has completed 78 additional test flights to gather data on power output, flight performance, and battery management. Certification for the eBeaver is expected by 2026, when Harbour Air will begin to convert its fleet to electric power.
Harbour Air’s international seaplane service began in 1982 with two aircraft. Today, there are 300 scheduled daily flights. The seaplane company also offers tours, adventure packages, and private flights. Harbour Air’s seaplane destinations connect downtown Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, Tofino, Whistler, Vancouver Airport/Richmond, Sechelt, Salt Spring Island, Powell River, and Comox in British Columbia as well as Seattle, Washington. Harbour Air transports about 500,000 passengers annually.
