Chinese company EHang becomes the first manufacturer of autonomous flying taxis to obtain all the necessary certificates to fly its vehicles on short, unmanned tourist trips. The first flights are scheduled to take place this year at several specific locations.
The vehicle concerned, the EH216-S, is an autonomous electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft that now meets all the requirements of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). EHang thus becomes the first company in the sector to receive the full set of regulatory certifications necessary for fully autonomous commercial operations.
The EH216-S was designed to transport two passengers on short trips in urban areas, without a pilot on board. Now that the certifications are in place, the first tourist flights are already being planned, at low altitude, in Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hefei. Ultimately, the idea is to offer a series of quick scenic flights over various tourist sites, such as over the Huangpu River in Shanghai. In the future, the aim is also for operators to be able to use this type of machine to offer urban transportation, for work commutes, for example.
With these certifications, EHang also hopes to accelerate the deployment of its autonomous air taxis in other regions of China, and then internationally. The company is planning demonstration flights in Europe and South America. In the meantime, the company plans to increase its production capacity to meet growing demand within China. – AFP Relaxnews
