Charles Alcock is managing editor of the AIN Media Group, having rejoined the company in 2019. He has been an aviation journalist since 1986, and previously worked for AIN from 1990 to 2017, most recently as editor-in-chief. His main focus is on covering new aviation technology and business models, as well as international news.
Having been raised in the London area, Alcock studied at the University of Manchester in the UK and earned an honors degree in Politics and Modern History. He speaks English and French, and some German.

Managing Editor

EHang has reported solid progress with the type certification process for the EH216 two-passenger eVTOL Autonomous Aerial Vehicle (AAV). Announcing financial results for the second quarter of 2022, the Chinese company said that a type certification team from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has agreed on key elements of the airworthiness approval process, including the basis for certification and plans for achieving it.
In an August 18 update, <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/aircraft-program/ehang-autonomous-aerial-vehicle">EHang</a> said that its engineers have now “worked out” 13 of the means-of-compliance requirements that will apply to the all-electric vehicle, which is primarily intended for short air taxi and sightseeing flights. The company said it is continuing internal tests as it prepares to demonstrate compliance to <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-03-29/ehang-expects-eh216-certification-mid-2022-and-launch-worlds-first-evtol">the CAAC</a> at an as-yet-unspecified date. 
In the three months ended June 30, EHang’s revenues increased almost 152 percent to RMB 14.6 million ($2.2 million), which it said was primarily due to growing precertification sales of the EH216-S. The company's investor relations department explained to&nbsp;FutureFlight&nbsp;that these revenues resulted from small numbers of aircraft ordered and delivered to customers prior to certification to support these early service adopters with training and demonstration activities. The amounts reported do not include larger numbers of pre-orders backed by deposits.
Deals completed during the quarter include&nbsp;a purchase order for five aircraft from China's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-06-22/ehang-expands-plans-evtol-sightseeing-flights-china">Tianxingjian Cultural Tourism Investment and Development</a>, with all of these units reported as delivered even though type certification is still pending. In April, Indonesia’s <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-04-11/preorder-100-ehang-evtol-aircraft-paves-way-urban-air-mobility-indonesia">Prestige Aviation</a>&nbsp;preordered&nbsp;100 units.
Despite the reported boost in revenues, net losses for the quarter increased&nbsp;7 percent to RMB 74.3 million ($11.1 million). In late June, the A<a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-06-29/chinas-agricultural-bank-backs-ehang-149-million-credit-line">gricultural Bank of China</a> granted EHang credit facilities to provide RMB 1 billion ($149 million) to support research and development, manufacturing, and operations. As of June 30, the company’s balance sheet showed cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and short-term investments valued at RMB 240.7 million ($35.9 million).
EHang now refers to the passenger-carrying version of its eVTOL vehicle as the EH216-S model, to differentiate it from the EH216-F firefighting version and the EH216-L, which is being offered for aerial logistics. The company's planned family of eVTOL aircraft also includes the larger, longer-range <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/aircraft-program/ehang-autonomous-aerial-vehicle">VT-30</a> model.
This story was updated on August 23, 2022, to clarify the basis for revenues reported from early orders and deliveries of the EH216-S aircraft.
&nbsp;

Charles Alcock

EHang's EH216 eVTOL aircraft is expected to start commercial air taxi operations in markets including Indonesia. (Image: EHang)

EHang Reports Progress on EH216 eVTOL Certification and Income from Preorders

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN