Chinese electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) developer Ehang has received operating licenses for its EH216-S aerial vehicle, clearing the way for paid passenger services, the company announced.
Ehang’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Guangdong EHang General Aviation, and its joint venture, Hefei HeYi Aviation, were awarded the first Air Operator Certificates for pilotless civil aerial vehicles by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). The approval enables commercial manned flight services, including low-altitude tourism and city tours, at operational sites in Guangzhou and Hefei.
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“This marks the official start of the era of manned flight in China’s low-altitude economy,” Ehang said in a statement, adding that operations will gradually expand to urban commuting and other scenarios as regulations permit.
The approval makes Ehang the first eVTOL company globally to secure a full set of regulatory certifications, an essential step toward scaling low-altitude aerial mobility. CITIC Securities noted in a research report that Ehang’s launch of commercial eVTOL flights could accelerate industry development and create opportunities in related sectors.
See also: Ehang Completes Maiden Flight of EH216-S eVTOL in Shanghai, Expanding Urban Air Mobility Plans
Ehang, one of China’s pioneering eVTOL manufacturers, priced the EH216-S at RMB 2.39 million ($330,000) in February. The aircraft, powered by battery technology, has a maximum takeoff weight of 650 kilograms. In November, the model completed a 48-minute test flight using solid-state batteries, exploring next-generation energy solutions.
The EH216-S obtained its Type Certificate from the CAAC in October 2023, qualifying it for human-carrying commercial operations. It later received its Airworthiness Certificate in December, followed by a Production Certificate in April 2024.