On 12 June, the world’s first air taxi to be licensed by a civil aviation authority made a successful flight in Saudi Arabia. EHang’s EH216-S pilotless electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft transported two passengers in Mecca, with special approval from the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).
EHang Holdings Limited, a certificated eVTOL manufacturer based in China’s leading industrial and commercial region of Guangzhou, obtained approval for series production of the EH216-S in April this year. After partnering up with local company Front End, it is now trying to get approval for its first eVTOL model in the Saudi market.
The EH216-S can transport up to two people and has a maximum cargo capacity of 220 kilograms. Its maximum speed is 130 kilometres per hour, with a maximum reach of 35 kilometres. Thanks to its small size, measuring 1.85 metres in height and 5.63 metres in width, it could also be used within urban areas.
“This debut flight of the EH216-S pilotless eVTOL in Saudi Arabia marks a significant milestone in EHang’s ongoing internationalisation and an important step forward in propelling global advanced UAV [unmanned aerial vehicle] reform, showcasing the potential of our pilotless eVTOL products and solutions for widespread adoption in the Middle Eastern market”, said Huazhi Hu, Founder, CEO and Chairman of EHang.
The project falls under Saudi Arabia’s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) programme, which sees autonomous air taxis such as the EH216-S as a convenient way to carry medical equipment, ease emergency travel, move pilgrims between sacred locations and offer logistical support for cargo transport.
“This flight marks a major advancement in integrating Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) solutions into Saudi Arabia’s aviation landscape. We are committed to the highest safety standards and its seamless integration into existing air traffic systems. This flight also acts as a proof of concept for multiple use cases and contributes to various AAM roadmap initiatives. We appreciate the instrumental support of Front End and EHang to mark this historic milestone for Saudi Arabia”, said GACA President, Abdulaziz Al-Duailej.
Recently, EHang also joined forces with Guangzhou Greater Bay Technology (GBT), a technology firm which leads the field in the development of constant-power high-rate batteries for the mass market. The ultimate goal of that partnership is to achieve a ten-minute or less charging time to go from 30 percent to 80 percent, with a battery energy density over 200 Wh/kg and a 2.000-cycle lifespan.
