EHang's Pilotless eVTOL Air Operator Certificate Application Accepted by CAAC
22 Juli 2024 - 4:30PM
EHang Holdings Limited (“EHang” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: EH), the
world’s leading urban air mobility (“UAM”) technology platform
company, today announced that the Civil Aviation Administration of
China (“CAAC”) has formally accepted the Air Operator Certificate
(“AOC” or “OC”) applications submitted by Guangdong EHang General
Aviation Co., Ltd. (“EHang General Aviation”), the Company’s
wholly-owned subsidiary specializing in UAM operation services, and
Hefei Heyi Aviation Co., Ltd. (“Heyi Aviation”), its joint venture
company in Hefei. This marks the commencement of the review process
for the applicants’ business license and operational qualification
for pilotless passenger-carrying aerial vehicles, with consensus
reached on review procedures, subjects, and frameworks. The CAAC
has established a specialized review team to move forward the
subsequent review process.
As the world's first project for the OC of
pilotless passenger-carrying electric vertical takeoff and landing
("eVTOL") aircraft, this milestone is paving the way for the
establishment of the world's first commercial operation standard
system for passenger-carrying eVTOL, which will lay a solid
foundation for the commercial operation of EHang's EH216-S. In
addition to EHang General Aviation and Heyi Aviation, EHang's
partners in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Taiyuan, and Wuxi are also
actively preparing for OC applications, with the aim to accelerate
the launching of EH216-S commercial operation and low-altitude
economy demonstration projects in local cities.
Similar to the previous type certification
process, the OC certification for EH216-S pilotless
passenger-carrying aerial vehicle cannot directly follow the
existing standards in civil aviation field, but rather requires
innovation and improvement based on current regulations to
establish a new and applicable standard. In March, the CAAC issued
a Consultation Notice on the Application and Issuance of Operator
Certificate under the Civil Aviation Regulations Part 92, aiming to
ensure a smooth implementation of the Rules on the Safety
Management of Civil Unmanned Aircraft (CCAR-92) . It clarifies the
OC application procedures and requirements, standardizes the scope
and key points of operational safety assessments, and refines
operational management requirements. Leveraging EHang’s extensive
operational data and practical experience, the Company is actively
collaborating with the CAAC to develop EH216-S operational
standards, which will provide a reference basis for the world's
first commercial operation regulatory system for pilotless
passenger-carrying eVTOLs.
In May of this year, the group standard
"Technical Requirements for eVTOL Aircraft Landing Sites",
primarily drafted and initiated by EHang, was released. This
standard provides clear guidelines on the technical parameters of
eVTOL aircraft landing sites, including physical characteristics,
obstacle limitations, site selection, structural design, and
specialized facilities. As China's first technical specification
for eVTOL aircraft landing sites, it will serve as a reference
basis for the development of eVTOL industry standards in China and
will also make a significant contribution to commercial operations
of EHang eVTOLs.
Recently, Song Zhiyong, CAAC Administrator,
stated that China's low-altitude economy is entering a new phase of
rapid growth. As the industry regulatory authority, the CAAC will
prioritize five key areas of focus, including the construction of
unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) demonstration zones, the
development of airworthiness certification capabilities, the
certification of OC, planning and construction of airport
facilities, and the establishment of low-altitude flight service
support system.
Huazhi Hu, Founder, Chairman and CEO of EHang,
commented, “We are collaborating with the CAAC to establish a new
operation system for pilotless aerial vehicles, which will once
again achieve a breakthrough in the global civil aviation industry.
The formal acceptance of the world's first pilotless
passenger-carrying eVTOL OC application has significant
implications for the eVTOL industry. From obtaining the world's
first type certification, production certificate, and standard
airworthiness certificate for a pilotless passenger-carrying eVTOL,
to enter into OC certification, we are pleased to have received
high recognition from the CAAC and are one step closer to realizing
our goal of commercial operation of unmanned passenger-carrying
aerial vehicles, representing the final step for urban air mobility
entering the consumer market. We look forward to the issuance of
the world's first commercial operation standard and the first OC
for pilotless passenger-carrying eVTOL , which will bring
low-altitude economy accessible to the public."
About EHang
EHang (Nasdaq: EH) is the world’s leading urban
air mobility (“UAM”) technology platform company. Our mission is to
enable safe, autonomous, and eco-friendly air mobility accessible
to everyone. EHang provides customers in various industries with
unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) systems and solutions: air mobility
(including passenger transportation and logistics), smart city
management, and aerial media solutions. EHang’s EH216-S has
obtained the world’s first type certificate, production certificate
and standard airworthiness certificate for passenger-carrying
pilotless eVTOL aircraft issued by the Civil Aviation
Administration of China. As the forerunner of cutting-edge UAV
technologies and commercial solutions in the global UAM industry,
EHang continues to explore the boundaries of the sky to make flying
technologies benefit our life in smart cities. For more
information, please visit www.ehang.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains statements that may
constitute “forward-looking” statements pursuant to the “safe
harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by
terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,”
“future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to”
and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts,
including statements about management’s beliefs and expectations,
are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve
inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause
actual results to differ materially from those contained in any
forward-looking statement, including but not limited to those
relating to certifications, our expectations regarding demand for,
and market acceptance of, our products and solutions and the
commercialization of UAM services, our relationships with strategic
partners, and current litigation and potential litigation involving
us. Management has based these forward-looking statements on its
current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections. While
they believe these expectations, assumptions, estimates and
projections are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are
only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and
uncertainties, many of which are beyond management’s control. These
statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause EHang’s
actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially
from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or
implied by these forward-looking statements.
Media Contact: pr@ehang.com Investor Contact:
ir@ehang.com
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