Chinese Urban Air Mobility company EHang has just successfully secured the necessary certification to commercialize the operation of its EH216-S passenger-carrying unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), Electrek reports.
EHang to launch local eVTOL operations
The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) awarded EHang’s EH216-S the eVTOL type certificate.
Notably, obtaining this certificate is crucial for the company to begin the commercial operation of its eVTOL UAVs. It essentially proves that the EH216-S model adheres to the safety and airworthiness standards set by the aviation administration in China.
EHang directly received the certification from the CAAC at the CAMIC International Convention Center in Beijing, China.
“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to CAAC, the expert team, and all EHang employees for their unwavering dedication. 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.”
EHang CEO Huazhi Hu
Validation process
EHang indicated that its eVTOLs have undergone rigorous laboratory, ground, and flight tests at various locations in China, including the following:
- main material performance
- structural strength
- crashworthiness
- software simulation
- ground control stations
- flight performance
- flight stability characteristics
The company further noted that the EH216-S’ safety, airworthiness, performance, functionality, usability, and reliability have completed “more than 500 specific test programs, more than 40,000 test flights for adjustments, and formal conformity validation tests covering more than 450 items in 65 major categories.”
Notably, the EHang EH216-S is a battery-powered eVTOL UAV that can support a 650 kg maximum takeoff weight.
It also boasts a top flight speed of 130 km/h and 25 minutes maximum endurance, CnEVPost asserted.
About EHang
EHang Holdings Limited ($EH) is a developer of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) vehicles that focuses on developing autonomous, sustainable, and smart aircraft.
It aims to expand to the global industry, starting in the world’s largest auto market. According to Electrek, its product portfolio currently includes the following:
- passenger eVTOLs
- logistics and delivery drones
- aerial media for a choreographed light show
The company has just received its aircraft cloud system certification in August. Now, it has successfully snatched the full certification of the EH216-S eVTOL in the country.
See Also:
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- Archer Aviation deploys first Midnight eVTOL ahead of the official launch
- Blade Air Mobility, BETA Technologies successfully complete eVTOL test flight in New York
EHang’s US-traded stock enjoyed a price increase of almost 130% to $38.868 at one point in pre-market trading after the announcement. It dropped 50.88% to $25.80 at press time.
