The aviation industry has got its another “first” – the start of the electric age. The first all-electric seaplane, DHC-2 de Havilland Beaver, has taken off for commercial flight in Vancouver, Canada, carrying six passengers. The history was made by Harbour Air in cooperation with magniX.

The aircraft was powered by a 750-horsepower (560 kW) magni500 propulsion system. “The magni500, which was unveiled at the Paris Air Show in June, 2019, is a high-power-density electric propulsion system that provides a clean and efficient way to power airplanes”, a statement provides.

magniX and Harbour Air will now begin the certification and approval process for the propulsion system and the retrofitting of aircraft. Once the certification is complete, the Canadian seaplane operator intends to electrify its  whole fleet by 2022.