EHang Holdings Limited has announced the launch of a UAM Hub at Luogang Central Park in Hefei, Anhui Province, marking the second vertiport established in Luogang Park following the opening of the Urban Air Mobility Operations Centre in May, which will serve as a key infrastructure for the future operation of EH216-S pilotless passenger-carrying aerial vehicles.
“This hub also sets a new milestone in EHang’s partnership with Hefei City in the low-altitude economy sector and will serve as a demonstration project for the commercial operations of electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft in Eastern China,” said the company in a press release.
The launch event of the UAM Hub, high-energy solid-state battery technology breakthrough and Hefei Low-Altitude Planning was held in Hefei on November 13.
“Titled “Ascend”, the UAM Hub’s upward spiral design symbolizes the rise of the eVTOL low-altitude economy. It spans approximately 1,963 square meters and is designed to accommodate 10 to 20 units of EH216-S aircraft. It features multiple dedicated zones for ticketing, passenger waiting, boarding, and a command-and-control center and charging and maintenance areas. It will provide EH216-S flight services for the public according to the operational standard after obtaining the Air Operator Certificate. The hub also serves the functions of maintenance and provides educational services.
“The UAM Hub will be operated by Hefei Heyi Aviation as a complement to another UAM operation centre inaugurated in May 2024 also within Luogang Central Park. This operation centre is equipped to operate 10 units of EH216-S aircraft and store up to 50 eVTOL aircraft, enabling low-altitude shuttle flights within the park.
At the launch events, the Hefei Municipal Government released its Low altitude Infrastructure and Scenario Application Plan for Urban Air Mobility, “proposing to establish a three-level infrastructure network for low altitude takeoff and landing in Hefei based on application scenario services, including UAM hubs, UAM bases, and takeoff and landing points, serving three main use cases of air shuttle, aerial tourism, and cross-district transportation in the city’s main areas.”
In the fourth quarter of 2023, EHang delivered 15 units of EH216-S to a Hefei customer and successfully conducted a debut commercial flight demonstration at Luogang Park in December 2023.
In March 2024, EHang and the Hefei Municipal Government jointly established Heyi Aviation, a low-altitude operations company, to oversee implementation and operation of low-altitude projects in Hefei. In July, the Civil Aviation Administration of China formally accepted Heyi Aviation’s application for an Air Operator Certificate for civil pilotless passenger-carrying aerial vehicles.
“The first OC in the eVTOL industry is expected to be obtained within this year,” said EHang. “Once the OC is obtained, Heyi Aviation will launch commercial operations of the EH216-S pilotless passenger-carrying aerial vehicles across various scenarios, including sightseeing tourism, air shuttle, and aerial logistics at the Hub and the Operation Center in Luogang Central Park, offering the public efficient and convenient UAM services.”
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