China skyrockets toward future with first flying taxi permits for autonomous drones VIDEO

According to a latest article, Interesting Engineering features that China has made a significant leap toward launching commercial flying taxi services with the issuance of its first permits for autonomous passenger drones.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAS) has granted air operator certificates to EHang Holdings in Guangdong Province and its subsidiary, Heyi Aviation in Hefei, Anhui Province, allowing both companies to conduct unmanned passenger flights.

“This milestone officially marks the launch of China’s human-carrying flight era in the low-altitude economy, enabling citizens and consumers to purchase tickets for low-altitude tourism, urban sightseeing, and other commercial human-carrying flight services in Guangzhou and Hefei,” EHang said in a statement.

In November 2024, EHang made history by completing the world’s first test flight of a pilotless, passenger-carrying electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft powered by a solid-state battery.

This recent approval represents the final regulatory hurdle before launching commercial services, granting the companies the green light to operate unmanned passenger flights. These Air Operator Certificates (OCs) follow earlier approvals for production and airworthiness, aligning with China’s broader push to advance low-altitude aviation technologies, including drones and blimps.

The flying taxis will initially serve short-distance tourism routes before expanding into broader networks. Despite the autonomous nature of the aircraft, the companies are required to adhere to strict safety, maintenance, and operational standards.

EHang’s application review began in July 2024, marking a significant step in China’s commitment to developing its “low-altitude economy,” one of the fastest-growing industries in the country. As investments in this sector increase, autonomous passenger drones could become a central part of urban transportation, offering a glimpse into the future of air mobility.

By Naila Huseynova