Photo: EHang
When you say EHang, you say "autonomous". The Chinese eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) maker just hit a major milestone related to pilotless eVTOL flights in the UAE, not just with its passenger-carrying EH216-S but with two other configurations as well.
May will remain a historic month for autonomous aviation in the UAE. The Chinese eVTOL company EHang completed a pioneering flight in Abu Dhabi as part of an extensive series of demo flights. The certified EH216-S nailed a successful passenger-carrying flight, the first of its kind in the entire UAE, and it wasn't alone. The EH216-L and EH216-F also completed their first-ever flights in Abu Dhabi.
These two configurations stand for aerial logistics and firefighting, respectively. They share the eVTOL design and autonomous flight capabilities of the passenger-carrying EH216-S. Watching all of these aircraft in action marked a historic moment for the future of air mobility in the region. It's not just about air taxis but about the multiple possibilities that come with different eVTOL configurations.
Members of the Emirati royalty and government officials were among the special guests who attended this unique event. Mohamed Al Dhaheri, board member of Multi Level Group (MLG) even experienced first-hand what it's like to be a passenger of a pilotless electric air taxi. MLG is EHang's regional strategic partner.
The Chinese manufacturer has secured several strategic partnerships that will lead to EH216-S commercial operations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. At the end of last year, it partnered with Wings Logistics Hub, and last month, it joined forces with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office and MLG.
Abu Dhabi aims to become an electric air mobility leader in the region, and pilotless air taxis will play an important part in the future.
In October 2023, EHang's flagship aircraft officially became the world's first certified autonomous passenger-carrying eVTOL. The EH216-S obtained type certification in record time: it took just three years for CAAC (China's Civil Aviation Authority) to grant EHang this certification, the first of its kind globally.
To get there, EHang completed more than 40,000 test flights, and its flagship aircraft underwent validation tests across 65 major categories.
The EH216-S is a compact, lightweight eVTOL designed for short-distance flights. As a two-passenger air taxi, it can cover up to 18.6 miles (30 km) on a single charge at a maximum speed of 80 mph (130 kph).
The first EH216-S unit was delivered to its owner at the end of 2023. Since then, the Chinese manufacturer has been working to expand its presence in the UAE, Japan, and even Latin America. As for its home country, a pioneering UAM (Urban Air Mobility) Center is currently being built in the Shenzen municipality, with a clear focus on unmanned air taxi operations. The EH216-S is set to kick off operations at this new hub in 2026.
These two configurations stand for aerial logistics and firefighting, respectively. They share the eVTOL design and autonomous flight capabilities of the passenger-carrying EH216-S. Watching all of these aircraft in action marked a historic moment for the future of air mobility in the region. It's not just about air taxis but about the multiple possibilities that come with different eVTOL configurations.
Members of the Emirati royalty and government officials were among the special guests who attended this unique event. Mohamed Al Dhaheri, board member of Multi Level Group (MLG) even experienced first-hand what it's like to be a passenger of a pilotless electric air taxi. MLG is EHang's regional strategic partner.
The Chinese manufacturer has secured several strategic partnerships that will lead to EH216-S commercial operations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. At the end of last year, it partnered with Wings Logistics Hub, and last month, it joined forces with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office and MLG.
Abu Dhabi aims to become an electric air mobility leader in the region, and pilotless air taxis will play an important part in the future.
In October 2023, EHang's flagship aircraft officially became the world's first certified autonomous passenger-carrying eVTOL. The EH216-S obtained type certification in record time: it took just three years for CAAC (China's Civil Aviation Authority) to grant EHang this certification, the first of its kind globally.
To get there, EHang completed more than 40,000 test flights, and its flagship aircraft underwent validation tests across 65 major categories.
The EH216-S is a compact, lightweight eVTOL designed for short-distance flights. As a two-passenger air taxi, it can cover up to 18.6 miles (30 km) on a single charge at a maximum speed of 80 mph (130 kph).
The first EH216-S unit was delivered to its owner at the end of 2023. Since then, the Chinese manufacturer has been working to expand its presence in the UAE, Japan, and even Latin America. As for its home country, a pioneering UAM (Urban Air Mobility) Center is currently being built in the Shenzen municipality, with a clear focus on unmanned air taxi operations. The EH216-S is set to kick off operations at this new hub in 2026.
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