Category Filtering: 'china'
The past several issues have covered numerous aspects and developments of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL)aircraft in China. Here’s a directory of the most advanced developments of larger Chinese aircraft—passenger aircraft with more than two seats and cargo aircraft heavier than 1 metric ton (2,200lb).
On March 30, Guangzhou-based EHang announced the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) had granted two air operator certificates (AOC) for its civil passenger-carrying autonomous aerial vehicles (AAV), clearing the way for EHang to begin revenue-generating passenger flights with its EH216-S.
In the midst of China’s reforms to promote low-altitude economic development and accelerate technological progress, tiltrotor technology has remained a relatively minor element of the local civilian aerospace sector, primarily focused on uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, including those using tiltpropeller propulsion.
Amid the attention-grabbing headlines and sweeping projections for advanced air mobility (AAM), a few companies have stood out as outliers, charting a quieter path by concentrating on research and development.
Throughout the year, a wave of new electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft companies have emerged alongside more recognized, established names like AutoFlight, EHang and XPeng AeroHT. Some are newcomers, leveraging their expertise from aerospace giants, such as AVIC and COMAC, while others — like Aerospace Times Feipeng and Hangjing Innovation — already produce uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS).
Chinese companies are rapidly advancing in the “low-altitude” sector (see “China's Low-Altitude Economy and eVTOL Diplomacy,” Vertiflite, Sept/Oct 2024), signaling a transformative era in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL).
2024 is proving to be a watershed year for China as it advances its low-altitude economy in preparation for the integration of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft operations.
On Friday, Oct. 13, EHang held a ceremony in Beijing to celebrate: the company had obtained the type certificate (TC) for its two-seat EH216-S Autonomous Air Vehicle (AAV) from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).
EHang, the Guangzhou-based developer of eVTOL aircraft, announced that China’s aviation authority is close to certifying the EHang EH216.
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The number of electric VTOL designs in China is growing rapidly with significant funding.
