The EH216-S self-developed passenger-carrying unmanned aerial vehicle Photo: Courtesy of EHang Holidings Ltd

EHang Holdings Limited, an urban air mobility technology platform company, announced on Friday that the EH216-S, its self-developed passenger-carrying unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system, has obtained the type certificate (TC) officially issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

This latest development signifies that the EH216-S's model design fully complies with CAAC's safety standards and airworthiness requirements, and that the EH216-S is qualified to conduct passenger-carrying UAV commercial operations.

The EH216-S stands as a pioneering technological and product innovation with significant differences from conventional aircraft in key areas including technical architecture, configuration, performance, functionality, operational mode and flight environment.

During the validation process, the EH216-S underwent extensive laboratory, ground, and flight tests at professional aviation laboratories and test sites across multiple locations in China.

These tests included but were not limited to main material performance, structural strength, flame resistance, crashworthiness, gas toxicity, environmental conditions of equipment and systems, software simulation, data links, ground control stations, overall system functionality, electromagnetic compatibility, flight performance and flight stability characteristics.

The safety, airworthiness, performance, functionality, usability and reliability of the EH216-S were thoroughly and rigorously validated through across 500 specific test items, more than 40,000 test flights for adjustments, and formal conformity validation tests encompassing 65 major categories and over 450 individual test items.

Huazhi Hu, Founder of EHang, said the company will launch commercial operations of the EH216-S unmanned eVTOLs after winning the TC.

Global Times