Hanneke Weitering is a writer and editor with AIN covering advanced air mobility and new flight technologies. She became an aviation journalist and joined the AIN team in the summer of 2022 after reporting on spaceflight and astronomy for six years at Space.com. After earning a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, she moved to New York City to pursue a master’s degree in science, health, and environmental reporting at New York University&#039;s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. She is now based in Seattle near Boeing Field and spends her free time exploring nature in the Pacific Northwest.

Science & Technology Editor

Hanneke Weitering

Latest news about Chinese eVTOL aircraft manufacturer EHang

As EHang continues to ramp up production and deliveries of its pilotless, two-seat EH216-S eVTOL aircraft, the Chinese company has been busy signing infrastructure deals and forging partnerships focused on the development of China’s “low-altitude economy.”
On December 27, EHang announced a partnership with China Communications Information &amp; Technology Group (CCIT) to jointly develop infrastructure for the low-altitude economy. EHang said it would work with CCIT to build 100 vertiports for intercity and intracity transport, plus another 100 tourism terminals for aerial sightseeing tours, over the next three years.&nbsp;
EHang and CCIT intend to deploy both digital and ground infrastructure for urban air mobility, including vertiports, flight data centers, and dedicated communications networks. On the digital front, the partners plan to produce a comprehensive operating platform “that integrates five key networks: air traffic infrastructure network, aerial route network, communications and navigation network, airspace management network, and low-altitude service network,” EHang said in a company statement.&nbsp;
CCIT is a subsidiary of the China Communications Construction Group, a state-owned engineering firm focused on transportation infrastructure, including railways, highways, bridges, tunnels, airports, and maritime shipping ports. The firm has faced international scrutiny in recent years, including U.S. trade sanctions, for its role in China’s militarization of the South China Sea, where it has been constructing artificial islands.&nbsp;
In partnership with EHang, CCIT said it plans to construct modular flight terminals in urban areas such as city parks and on the rooftops of parking structures, as well as larger multimodal mobility hubs. The partners are also considering establishing a dedicated investment fund, a research institute, and a vocational training academy “for the low-altitude economy industry,” according to EHang.&nbsp;
“Upon this foundation, we will comprehensively, deeply, and innovatively apply our technologies, products, and operational management systems in various air traffic flight scenarios, empower the construction and sustainable development of the industrial ecosystem, and inject new momentum into the high-quality development of the low-altitude economy,” said EHang chief operating officer Zhao Wang.
<h2>Weihai High-Tech Zone Buys 30 EHang Aircraft</h2>
On the same day that EHang announced its partnership with CCIT, the manufacturer revealed plans to introduce pilotless eVTOL operations in Weihai City, located in China’s Shandong province.&nbsp;
According to EHang, the management committee of Weihai City’s Torch High-Tech Industrial Development Zone (also known as the Weihai High-Tech Zone) has placed a fully paid order for 30 EH216-S aircraft that it intends to use for aerial sightseeing tours and commercial air taxi flights. EHang and the Weihai High-Tech Zone aim to launch sightseeing operations at Weihai International Beach, Xiaoshi Island, Torch Eight Streets, and other popular tourist destinations.&nbsp;
Weihei officials will also help EHang establish a manufacturing base in Shandong, along with an industrial park, “with the goal of promoting the integration of the local low-altitude economy with cultural tourism, and other regional industries, accelerating the development and clustering of the low-altitude economy industry in the Weihai High-Tech Zone,” EHang said in a statement.
Shandong province officials recently unveiled a three-year action plan for the development of a local low-altitude economy that would include 400 takeoff and landing sites and more than 50 intracity routes for unpiloted air taxi operations. EHang is targeting 2027 for the launch of eVTOL air taxi services in Shandong.&nbsp;
In addition to commercial air taxi routes and aerial sightseeing tours on the two-passenger EH216-S vehicle, EHang is also offering alternate versions of its autonomous aircraft for emergency rescue and logistics operations. It has demonstrated a firefighting model known as the EH216-F, which can reach altitudes up to 600 meters and could be used to combat fires in high-rise buildings, the company said.&nbsp;
“With the diverse application scenarios in Weihai, we are well-positioned to accelerate commercial operations and market adoption and jointly advance safe, intelligent, and eco-friendly air mobility solutions,” Wang commented. “In the future, the public will be able to purchase tickets for pilotless eVTOL sightseeing, enjoying more affordable prices and a better flight experience than helicopter tours.”
<h2>EHang Building Emergency Response Headquarters in Fangshan</h2>
On December 26, EHang announced plans to open a national headquarters for its emergency response business segment in Fangshan district, Beijing, at a site dubbed the Beijing Low-Altitude Safety Emergency Industrial Park. Established in partnership with the local district government, the park will also serve as a flight demonstration zone for new technologies and products.
Subsequently, they intend to establish “a comprehensive Emergency Firefighting Industrial Park” within the district to serve as a site for research and development, testing, manufacturing, sales, maintenance, and training for the EH216-F, according to EHang.&nbsp;
Although EHang obtained a type certificate for the EH216-S from the Civil Aviation Administration of China in October 2023—making it the first certified passenger-carrying eVTOL aircraft—the regulator has not issued any air operator certificates. EHang has been permitted to conduct some public flight demonstrations under special licenses in Hefei, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Taiyuan, Zhuhai, and Wencheng.
No foreign regulators have approved the EH216-S, but EHang is planning to certify and operate the aircraft in countries including Thailand, Indonesia, Brazil, Japan, and the UAE.

New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

EHang Launches eVTOL Infrastructure Partnership in Shandong and Beijing

Autonomous eVTOL manufacturer continuous work on China's "low-altitude economy"

As EHang continues to ramp up production and deliveries of its pilotless eVTOL aircraft, the Chinese company has been busy signing infrastructure deals.

EHang Launches eVTOL Infrastructure Partnerships in China

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

News, issues, personnel, equipment and developments about air traffic management.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Parking times will be reduced and slot delays of at least an hour should be expected

Operators Warned over Summer Restrictions in Athens

News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Applications for Powered by Collins program close on May 16

Collins Seeks Collaboration on Materials, Airport Ops and Navigation

Vertiport network would support eVTOL air taxi and drone operations in the UAE

Skyports Reveals Proposed Design for Abu Dhabi Vertiports

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

PRS Aeroportos and VertiMob Infrastructure are supporting Eve Air Mobility

Eve and Vertiport Partners Start eVTOL Sandbox Exercise in Brazil

New developments at FBOs including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

In this article

EHang

More In Airports

Operators Warned over Summer Restrictions in Athens

Parking times will be reduced and slot delays of at least an hour should be expected

Collins Seeks Collaboration on Materials, Airport Ops and Navigation

Applications for Powered by Collins program close on May 16

Skyports Reveals Proposed Design for Abu Dhabi Vertiports

Vertiport network would support eVTOL air taxi and drone operations in the UAE

Eve and Vertiport Partners Start eVTOL Sandbox Exercise in Brazil

PRS Aeroportos and VertiMob Infrastructure are supporting Eve Air Mobility

UK Government Extends London Airport Night Noise Limits

Long-delayed decisions on capacity expansion for Heathrow, Gatwick, and Luton are expected soon

Record Snowfall Leaves More Gulf Coast Airports Reeling

Unexpected blizzard strikes locations without snow handling options

Bizjet Movements Rise 24% in Saudi Arabia

Hubs at Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam stand out for activity

Airports Along U.S. Gulf Coast Close Amid Winter Storm

Texas, Louisiana airports issuing unprecedented closures due to winter weather

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN