This website uses cookies
More information
Business Air News
Business Air News
The monthly news publication for aviation professionals.

Why visit ACE ’25?

Related background information from the Handbook...

EHang, Inc.
Aircraft

EHang 216

BAN's World Gazetteer

China
The monthly news publication for aviation professionals.

Request your printed copy

CAAC begin certification process for EHang's EH216
Members of the CAAC TC team have investigated and evaluated the design features, technical points, safety performance and other aspects of the EH216, followed by a field trip to EHang's R&D centre.
The decision to certify the EH216 will rest with a large panel.

Autonomous aerial vehicle platform EHang Holdings has announced that the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has established a type certification (TC) team for the EH216 passenger-grade AAV. The kickoff meeting was held in Guangzhou on 13 and 14 April with the aim of officially advancing the TC approval work of EH216. This is unprecedented in CAAC's record of TC approval projects for unmanned aerial systems.

At the kickoff meeting, expert members of the CAAC TC team investigated and evaluated the design features, technical points, safety performance and other aspects of the EH216, followed by a field trip to EHang's research and development centre. The CAAC team was led by Wei Chen, deputy director of the Central South Regional Administration of CAAC, and, Heyong Lin, director of the Airworthiness Certification Office.

Chen comments: “Type certification of the EH216 passenger-grade unmanned aerial system is a highly innovative project that calls for breakthroughs in the conventional certification process while preserving standard promulgation.”

As the first passenger-grade autonomous aerial vehicle platform company, EHang officially submitted the EH216 type certificate application to CAAC in December 2020, which was accepted by CAAC in January 2021. Last week, CAAC's chief engineer Shijun Yin spearheaded a delegation to visit EHang for inspection of unmanned aerial vehicle certification. The visit included Ehang's R&D centre, command-and-control centre, test base, and production and development facility. The delegation offered important guidance to the type certification process.

Yin remarks: “Unmanned aviation is an integral part of the construction of intelligent civil aviation and may become the primary form of transportation in the future. Government and companies should work together to promote the development of unmanned aerial vehicles and adhere to high-quality standards when building the civil aviation infrastructure. Both the applicant and CAAC should have an innovation mindset in the certification process while benchmarking international standards.”

As the EH216 TC certification progresses, EHang will continue to consolidate its first-mover advantage and accelerate the application of its AAV technology solutions for various practical use cases including passenger transportation, aerial sightseeing, air logistics, aerial firefighting, emergency rescue, and medical transportation.

Other News
 
EHang launches UAM Exhibition Center in Shenzhen’s Luohu District
January 30, 2025
Along with the opening of its UAM Exhibition (Experience) Center in Shenzhen’s Luohu District, EHang showcased the first automated smart eVTOL vertiport for its EH216-S aircraft.
EHang collaborates with Shandong on pilotless eVTOL project
January 12, 2025
The project aims to develop a manufacturing base and promote low-altitude tourism for the advancement of the region’s economic growth and innovation.
EHang broadens rescue capabilities through Beijing partnership
January 6, 2025
The company's strategic collaboration with the Fangshan District Government aims to develop low-altitude emergency facilities and solutions.