Michaela
China has made a significant leap toward the future of urban transportation by granting its first permits for autonomous passenger drones, marking a key moment for the development of air taxis. This landmark achievement sets the stage for the potential launch of commercial flying taxi services, signaling a major advancement in the country’s ambitious efforts to revolutionize air mobility and reshape how people travel within cities.
The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has issued Air Operator Certificates (OCs) to EHang Holdings in Guangdong Province and its subsidiary, Heyi Aviation, in Hefei, Anhui Province. This approval allows both companies to conduct unmanned passenger flights.
“This marks the beginning of China’s low-altitude human-carrying flight era, allowing the public to book flights for low-altitude tourism, urban sightseeing, and more in Guangzhou and Hefei,” EHang wrote in an X post, sharing the news regarding the certification. “With this certification, EHang becomes the world’s first eVTOL company to achieve the full suite of regulatory approvals, paving the way for large-scale commercialization of autonomous aerial mobility,” the company shared.
In November 2024, EHang marked a milestone with the world’s first test flight of a passenger-carrying, pilotless eVTOL, powered by cutting-edge solid-state battery technology.
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The latest approval represents the final regulatory hurdle for launching commercial services, granting the companies the green light to begin unmanned passenger flights. These OCs come after earlier approvals for production and airworthiness, supporting China’s broader strategy to advance low-altitude aviation, encompassing drones and airships.
The air taxis are set to begin operating on short-distance tourism routes before expanding into wider networks. Despite their autonomous nature, the companies will be required to meet stringent safety regulations, maintenance protocols, and operational standards.
After more than six years of development, the EH216-S eVTOL aircraft is set to play a pivotal role in China’s autonomous flying taxi program. First taking flight in the U.S. in 2020, the aircraft received Chinese certification in October 2023, followed by approval for mass production in April 2024. This landmark approval marks the world’s first type certificate for an unmanned eVTOL, paving the way for commercial passenger operations using these cutting-edge, autonomous aerial vehicles.
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Reports state that the two-passenger air taxis are designed with a carbon-fiber composite fuselage, featuring eight arms equipped with coaxial propellers, for a total of 16 propellers. This pilotless aircraft operates on predefined flight paths and utilizes 5G connectivity to maintain communication with a central command center.
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MICHAELA
Michaela is a news writer focused on cryptocurrency and blockchain topics. She prioritizes rigorous research and accuracy to uncover interesting angles and ensure engaging reporting. A lifelong book lover, she applies her passion for reading to deeply explore the constantly evolving crypto world.
