Ehang completed a passenger-carrying demo flight of the EH216-S in the UAE, and the local debut flights of the EH216-F for high-rise firefighting and the EH216-L for air logistics.
(Image credit: Ehang)
Chinese electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) developer Ehang (NASDAQ: EH) has made its first passenger-carrying demonstration flight in the United Arab Emirates, as it showcases its low-altitude transportation solutions in more overseas markets.
Ehang announced overnight that its EH216-S unmanned aerial vehicle (UAM), for which it has received a Production Certificate in China, has completed its first passenger-carrying demonstration flight in Abu Dhabi, the first of its kind in the UAE and the Middle East.
The EH216-S is powered by batteries for flight and has a maximum takeoff weight of 620 kilograms, according to information previously announced by Ehang.
The UAM has a maximum flight speed of 130 kilometers per hour and a maximum endurance of 25 minutes.
Ehang has obtained the Type Certificate, Airworthiness Certificate, and Production Certificate for the EH216-S in China, making it the first eVTOL maker to obtain all three licenses.
The company announced on February 2 that the official guide price of the EH216-S in China is RMB 2.39 million yuan ($330,000).
The EH216-S is part of Ehang's EH216 series of eVTOLs, which also includes the EH216-F for high-rise firefighting and the EH216-L for aerial logistics.
The EH216-F and EH216-L made their debut flights in the UAE, demonstrating a diverse range of UAM use scenarios of pilotless eVTOL aircraft, Ehang said in an overnight press release.
The EH216 series pilotless eVTOL aircraft performed several autonomous flights at the Emirates Falcons Aviation Club in Al Ali, Abu Dhabi with the approval by the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the UAE, according to the company.
Featuring a compact fuselage, high redundancy design and intelligent cluster management, the EH216 series is aimed at serving as a transformative solution to urban transportation challenges such as emissions and congestion.
"After securing the approval for passenger-carrying demo flights and conducting the debut flight, we will actively foster collaboration and communication between the GCAA and the Civil Aviation Administration of China to expedite the progress towards commercial flights of our pilotless aircraft in the UAE, " Ehang founder, chairman and CEO Hu Huazhi said.
Ehang is actively participating in the design and construction of the eVTOL vertical take-off and landing airport with UAE partners and government agencies to prepare for the launch of commercial UAM routes, it said.
The company joined the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries Cluster in the UAE and established a strategic partnership with Wings Logistics Hub in December 2023.
Last month, Ehang formed a strategic partnership with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office and MLG to drive the development of eVTOL in the UAE.
Ehang is looking to establish a regional headquarters in Abu Dhabi to facilitate business activities with local partners, including manufacturing, flight operations, research and development, training, and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities, according to the company.
The UAE is another international market Ehang is exploring. At the end of March, the company announced that it had constructed a flight demonstration base in Japan and demonstrated the potential of the EH216-S in an aerial sightseeing scenario.
($1 = RMB 7.2171)
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