EHang advances pilotless passenger-carrying aerial vehicles certification process

A passenger takes a trial ride on the EH216-S in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, in December. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The Civil Aviation Administration of China has formally accepted the Air Operator Certificate applications by EHang Holdings Limited, a leading urban air mobility technology company, the company said on Monday.

The acceptance marks the commencement of the review process for the applicant's business license and operational qualification for pilotless passenger-carrying aerial vehicles, with consensus reached on review procedures, subjects and frameworks.

The CAAC has established a specialized review team to proceed with the subsequent review process, according to the company.

The applications were jointly submitted by Guangdong EHang General Aviation Co Ltd, EHang's wholly-owned subsidiary specializing in UAM operation services, and Hefei Heyi Aviation Co Ltd, its joint venture company in Hefei, Anhui province.

The acceptance would help pave the way for the establishment of the world's first commercial operation standard system for pilotless passenger-carrying electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and lay a solid foundation for the commercial operation of EHang's EH216-S, the company said.

In addition to EHang General Aviation and Heyi Aviation, EHang's partners in Guangzhou and Shenzhen in Guangdong province, Taiyuan in Shanxi province and Wuxi in Jiangsu province are also preparing for certificate applications. The aim is to accelerate the launching of commercial EH216-S operations and low-altitude economy demonstration projects in local cities.

Similar to the previous certification process, the AOC certification for EH216-S pilotless passenger-carrying aerial vehicles cannot directly follow the civil aviation field's existing standards but requires innovation and improvement based on current regulations to establish a new and applicable standard.

In March, the CAAC issued a consultation notice on the application and issuance of operator certificates under the civil aviation regulations, aiming to ensure a smooth implementation of the Rules on the Safety Management of Civil Unmanned Aircraft.

The notice clarifies the air operator certificate application procedures and requirements, standardizes operational safety assessment scope and key points, and refines operational management requirements.

EHang has been lending its extensive operational data and practical experience to collaborate with the CAAC to develop EH216-S operational standards.

In May, the group standard of technical requirements for eVTOL aircraft landing sites, primarily drafted and initiated by EHang, was released. It provides clear guidelines on the technical parameters of eVTOL aircraft landing sites, including physical characteristics, obstacle limitations, site selection, structural design and specialized facilities.

As the industry regulatory authority, the CAAC will prioritize five areas of focus, including the construction of unmanned aerial vehicle demonstration zones, the development of airworthiness certification capabilities, the certification of air operator certificates, the planning and construction of airport facilities, and the establishment of low-altitude flight service support system.

"We are collaborating with the CAAC to establish a new operation system for pilotless aerial vehicles, which will once again achieve a breakthrough in the global civil aviation industry," said Hu Huazhi, founder, chairman and CEO of EHang.

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