The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) issued the world’s first airworthiness certificate for the EH216-S on October 13, 2023, a domestically produced passenger drone.
The EHang aircraft conducted test flights in Jishou, Hunan. (Video: EHang).
The certificate granted by CAAC for the EH216-S, an electric vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aerial vehicle (eVTOL), confirms that the vehicle’s design fully meets safety and flight requirements. According to EHang, a Guangzhou-based company leading in autonomous flying vehicle technology, the EH216-S is certified for commercial passenger transport operations as a UAV.
The EHang eVTOL model stands 1.93 meters tall and 5.73 meters wide, with a maximum takeoff weight of 620 kg, capable of carrying two passengers along with luggage. Equipped with 8 foldable wings and 16 propulsion engines, the EH216-S can travel 30 kilometers at a maximum speed of 130 km/h.
The vehicle also utilizes green energy and is equipped with various intelligent systems, including a flight control system, battery management, and high-speed wireless networks, ensuring a safe and smooth flying experience. The EH216-S operates entirely on electric power and can be fully charged in two hours.
China encourages the development of eVTOL in sustainable aviation development plans.
The EH216-S has wide applications in various fields such as passenger transport, aerial tours, cargo delivery, and medical emergencies. The safety certification application for the EH216-S was accepted by CAAC in January 2021. The agency established safety conditions that the aircraft must meet to be approved for operations in February 2022, laying the groundwork for the licensing assessment. Throughout the vetting process, the aircraft completed over 40,000 test flights in various locations both domestically and internationally, concluding the final tests in August.
China promotes the development of eVTOL under its sustainable aviation development plan. On October 10, three ministries, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, jointly announced a framework for developing green air transport manufacturing from 2023 to 2035, with plans for piloted eVTOL operations by 2025.
