Electric powered passenger aircraft

Speaking at a panel discussion called Future Technological Developments at last week’s IATA media briefing, Rolls-Royce senior bice-presdent marketing Richard Goodhead said he saw no future in long-haul electric-powered aircraft. “The weight penalties were just too much”, he said. Even for medium-size aircraft such as the Airbus A320 series, he was sceptical.

Hovering over the whole discussion was the news that an all-electric powered seaplane has taken flight in Vancouver, in what the operators describe as a "world first" for the aviation industry.

The short test flight by Harbour Air and magniX involved a six-passenger DHC-2 de Havilland Beaver with a 750hp (560 kW) magni500 propulsion system.

The companies said it was a first step to building the "world's first all-electric commercial fleet".

The push to electric could help to slash carbon emissions in the high-polluting aviation sector.

"This historic flight signifies the start of the third era in aviation – the electric age," Harbour Air and magniX said in a statement.

In the UK, Rolls-Royce has completed the acquisition of the electric and hybrid-electric aerospace propulsion activities of Siemens (formerly known as the eAircraft business), following a period of employee consultation. A modified prototype has flown.

See also All-electric Energic takes off BTN 24 June and Paris Air Show BTN 1 July.

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