The use of eVTOL aircraft can reduce the time it takes to reach the downtown from Pudong International Airport from 60-90 minutes to 10 minutes, Autoflight said.
(Image credit: Autoflight)
Autoflight, a Chinese startup specializing in automated eVTOL (Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing) technology, completed a test flight at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, paving the way for future low-altitude mobility solutions.
Autoflight's 2-ton eVTOL V2000CG recently completed a special flight at Pudong International Airport, the first test flight of such an aircraft at a 4F airport, the Shanghai-based company announced today.
A 4F airport is a civil airport of the highest classification, with long runways and state-of-the-art facilities capable of accommodating the largest aircraft.
Previously, during R&D test flights and compliance verification test flights, the V2000CG's test sites have covered scenarios including self-built sites, general aviation airports, and transportation airports, Autoflight said.
As an important solution for future urban air transportation, eVTOLs' flexible takeoff and landing, zero carbon emissions, quietness, safety, and ride comfort, among other features, make it suitable for urban point-to-point air logistics and travel, the company said.
For an international mega-city like Shanghai, transportation connections from the airport to the downtown areas are a typical application scenario, it said.
The use of eVTOL aircraft can reduce the arrival time from Pudong International Airport to the city center to 10 minutes from 60-90 minutes by ground drive, Autoflight said.
The V2000CG received its Type Certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) East China Regional Administration in March, making it the first eVTOL aircraft in the tonnage class and above, it said.
Autoflight's other manned eVTOL is in the process of applying for a Type Certificate, according to the company.
Founded in 2017, Autoflight is one of the earliest companies in China's eVTOL sector, aiming to provide air logistics and air travel solutions.
On September 18, 2021, Autoflight announced the completion of a $100 million Series A funding round, which was the largest single funding received by a Chinese eVTOL company at the time.
In October 2021, the company completed the first flight test of its V1500M, which has a maximum takeoff weight of 1,500 kilograms, a maximum number of 3-4 passengers, and a maximum flight range of 250 kilometers with passengers.
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