EHang has achieved multiple positive results on the specific algorithms based on aerodynamics, test flights for the overload ratio boundary, etc.
EHang Holdings Limited, an autonomous aerial vehicle (“AAV”) technology platform company, has announced the latest updates of its passenger-grade AAV EH216-S Type Certification (“TC”) process. The company has received official approval for the Project Specific Certification Plan from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (“CAAC”). Currently, various specified review subjects regarding the EH216-S have been confirmed, including performance and flight, structural strength, design and configuration, ground control station, airborne human-computer interaction, totality, continued airworthiness, etc.
The company is in the process of preparing the vehicle for demonstration and verification of compliance. According to EHang, the company has achieved multiple positive results on the specific algorithms based on aerodynamics, test flights for the overload ratio boundary, etc. The Company has decided to conduct further supplementary test activities and test flights for verification in October 2022 based on more than 30,000 safe trial flights of EH216-S that have been accumulated.
EH216-S is a passenger-grade autonomous electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle. EH216-S is innovative and revolutionary in its structure, configurations, operation modes and flight circumstances in comparison with traditional aircraft. Existing standards in the traditional civil aviation field cannot be directly applicable in the EH216-S TC process and there is a need for new standards to be formulated with innovations based on current policies, regulations, standards and experience. There hasn’t yet been any case of an autonomous eVTOL aircraft having obtained the Type Certificate in the world, which would make the EH216-S TC project the world’s first of its type.
Huazhi Hu, Founder, Chairman and CEO, EHang, commented, “EHang has always been committed to bold innovation, careful analysis and prudent verification, and contributing our experience and expertise to formulating relevant industry standards and norms, as well as leading the development of the global eVTOL industry. Completing the airworthiness certification process is a necessary and critical step to further validate the product safety. We are fully confident to obtain the EH216-S Type Certificate as we have basically done the most arduous work by now. We will make continued efforts to accelerate all the remaining processes in the upcoming months in order to obtain the EH216-S Type Certificate as soon as possible.”
The EH216-S TC process has received attention from relevant national institutions, the aviation authority and the aviation industry in China and has received guidance and support to significantly enhance, deepen and accelerate the project. EHang has established a regular cooperative work mechanism with the EH216-S AAV TC Review Panel organized by the CAAC after it formally adopted the Special Conditions for the EH216-S AAV in February 2022.
EHang is China’s first passenger-grade AAV company. The company has been and has been actively preparing for the airworthiness certification and was approved by the CAAC as China’s first passenger-grade AAV airworthiness certification pilot enterprise in 2018. The CAAC officially issued the Special Conditions for the EH216-S AAV in February 2022. The CAAC provides the compliance basis and safety standards for EH216-S AAVs.
EH216-S AAVs have completed more than 30,000 trial flights including passenger-carrying ones and test flights in extreme environments like high altitudes, typhoons, deserts and heavy fog. The accumulated data, experience and safe records have been compiled to support the demonstration and verification of compliance, and an appropriate amount of test flight subjects will be further supplemented to accelerate the completion of the demonstration and verification of compliance.
