EHang Holdings Limited has announced that on December 28 the EH216-S pilotless passenger-carrying aerial vehicles successfully completed debut commercial flight demonstrations in Guangzhou and Hefei respectively, “marking another major step towards normalizing flights with EH216-S in aerial sightseeing at local scenic spots,” said the company.
Two launch events were held at the Jiulong Lake Park in Guangzhou and the Luogang Central Park in Hefei.
“Both events marked the debut commercial flight demonstrations with the certified EH216-S aircraft, which have obtained the Standard Airworthiness Certificates issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (the “CAAC”),” reported the company. “Several government officials and citizens from Guangzhou and Hefei joined the first group of invited passengers to take a ride on the EH216-S, and experienced the magnificent scenery from a completely new perspective above the city landmarks. The events attracted representatives from local governments, the CAAC, various enterprises, media, and citizens, highlighting significant interest in this new way of air mobility.
“The first EH216-S passenger-carrying unmanned aerial vehicle system which has obtained the world’s first standard airworthiness certificate, has been successfully delivered to ETON, an intelligent aviation technology subsidiary of Guangzhou Development District Communications Investment Group Co., Ltd., and has been deployed at the Jiulong Lake operational site. More operation sites and flight routes for aerial sightseeing and logistics are under development in Huangpu district as well. In addition, Guangzhou Development District Communications Investment Group Co., Ltd. and Guangzhou Industrial Investment Capital today announced to jointly set up a Guangzhou Development District Low-Altitude Industry Venture Capital Fund with the target fund size of RMB 10 billion.”
“The Luogang Central Park is designated by the Hefei government as an electric vertical take-off and landing (“eVTOL”) aircraft operation site for its Full-Space Unmanned System Integrated Application Demonstration Project. Transformed from the former Hefei Luogang International Airport, the Luogang Central Park is known as the world’s largest urban central park, covering a total area of 12.7 square kilometers. It hosts natural landscape, theme gardens, playgrounds, concert halls, restaurants, apartments, and hotels, which has attracted 300,000 daily visitors during holidays. Abundant application scenarios and massive demands for aerial sightseeing, tourism and regional shuttle services makes the Luogang Central Park an ideal commercial operation site for EH216-S pilotless passenger-carrying eVTOL aircraft.
“Following the first eVTOL flight route at Luogang Center Park, the Hefei government plans to collaborate with EHang to expand aerial sightseeing flight routes and services to more scenic spots in Hefei, such as Swan Lake, among others.
“Based on the strategic partnership agreement with EHang in October this year, the Hefei Municipal Government intends to facilitate the purchase of at least 100 units of EH216 series pilotless aerial vehicles from EHang, and/or provide financing support, amounting up to a total of USD100 million.”
The Guangzhou Huangpu district government released the Detailed Rules for Implementation of Measures to Promote the High-Quality Development of the Low-Altitude Economy in Guangzhou Development District (Huangpu District) at the launch event, reports EHang. The government subsidies are up to RMB 30 million for eligible low-altitude industrial projects. Guangzhou Huangpu district is accelerating the layout of the low-altitude economy industrial clusters with potential values of hundreds of billions in RMB. “
It is foreseeable that low-altitude economy will play a more important role in the future economic and social development of Guangzhou Huangpu district. “City in the Sky” is becoming a reality, and UAM will become the new name card of Guangzhou Huangpu district.”
The EH216-S completed a commercial flight demonstration at Hefei Luogang Central Park on December 28 2023
Also at the launch event, Hefei government launched the Action Plan for Low-Altitude Economic Development of Hefei (2023-2025) with 20 guidelines. “It is proposed to build a low-altitude economy cluster, build a testing and airworthiness certification base, build a flight service and management platform, set up commercial flight routes for aerial tourism and logistics, etc.”
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https://www.ehang.com/news/1025.html
(Image: EH216-S completed commercial flight demonstration at Guangzhou Jiulong Lake Park -EHang)