FutureFlight
EHang's 216 eVTOL Cleared for Supply Flights in China
EHang is using its 216 autonomous eVTOL aircraft to carry freight for a hotel operator in southern China with approval from the CAAC.
Ehang 216 operating for hotel
EHang has been approved to operate commercial logistics flights for a Chinese hotel. [Photo: EHang]

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has approved eVTOL aircraft developer EHang to conduct commercial logistics flights using its 216 Autonomous Aerial Vehicle on behalf of a hotel operator at Taizhou in southern China. EHang claims this is the world’s first commercial pilot operation to be approved by a national aviation authority and the permission has been granted even though the all-electric EHang 216 has not yet completed type certification.

The approval, which was announced on May 27, follows earlier interim approval granted in February 2019 for trial operations for the Model 216, including some that have carried passengers. None of these flights, made at a number of locations in China, were conducted on a commercial basis.