Chinese autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) manufacturer EHang marks milestone as the first ever company to be awarded a “type certificate” for their self-developed passenger-carrying unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system.
This safety certification means that the company are one step closer to deploying their unmanned electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) the EH216-S as a taxi service.
The “type certificate” not only verifies the airworthiness of the companies’ eVTOLs for deployment in China and overseas, but also marks the beginning of a new era for commercial UAM operations.
Huazhi Hu, Founder, Chairman and CEO of EHang, said:
“Our self-developed EH216-S passenger-carrying UAV system has finally met high expectation to secure the first TC in the global eVTOL industry, marking a significant chapter in civil aviation history. Embracing the TC as our springboard, we will launch commercial operations of the EH216-S unmanned eVTOLs, prioritizing safety above all. This will enable us to steadily progress towards our strategic goal to be a UAM platform operator, and commit to our mission to enable safe, autonomous, and eco-friendly air mobility accessible to everyone.”
The safety and airworthiness of the EH216-S was validated through more than 500 specific test items and more than 40,000 test flights for adjustments.
EHang has claimed that the Civil Aviation Administration of China’s experience and expertise in conducting the EH216-S airworthiness certification provides a significant reference for the global aviation industry and plays a pivotal role in shaping regulations, standards, and norms for unmanned eVTOL airworthiness certification, serving as a crucial benchmark for the industry worldwide.
Find out more about the testing procedures of the EH216-S here.
