First electric planes fly over English Channel

CALAIS (France) — Airbus flew its electric plane across the English Channel for the first time today (July 10), hours after a French pilot made a similar voyage in his electric plane — journeys seen as a symbolically important step toward making electronic flight viable in the long term.

European planemaker Airbus flew its E-fan electric plane, which operates exclusively on batteries, from Lydd, England, to Calais, France, today morning. Since there's no oil or water, the 6m long, 589.7kg jet releases zero emissions.

Several companies in different countries are trying to develop electric planes in hopes of offering a fuel-free and emissions-free flight alternative for the future.

Yesterday night, pilot Hugues Duval flew from Dover, England, to Calais on a two-engine, one-seat Cricri plane, which weighs about 100kg. He said reached 150km an hour on his 52km journey.

Mr Duval told The Associated Press that his successful flight was a "relief" and an "important moment" after years of developing the plane and flying it over land.

Airbus' E-fan took its maiden voyage in March 2014, and has taken off 100 times since, its latest at Paris's International Air Show last month. Airbus aims to put the two-seater on the market in 2017, targeting sales at training facilities for entry-level pilots.

The choice of flight path was not coincidental: In 1909, French pilot Louis Bleriot was the first person to fly a plane across the English Channel.

Safety was of secondary priority for Mr Bleriot — he was concentrated on winning £1,000 (S$2,095) in prize money from the British Daily Mail newspaper by performing the feat first.

For Airbus' flight today, security professionals were out in full force, with helicopters and rescue speed boats trailing the E-fan.

Electric flight is a nascent sector of the aviation industry, so safety regulations for planes like the E-fan are still in development. Airbus and the French Direction of Civil Aviation worked together to create a test flight program for the jets.

While the E-fan only seats two for now, the aircraft manufacturer is aiming bigger down the line. Chief Technical Officer Jean Botti told The Associated Press at the Paris Air Show last month, "Our objective here is to make a hybrid-electric hundred seater for the future," calling it an ambition Airbus could realise in the next 15 years. AP