A UAM Operation Demonstration Center has been launched at OH Bay, a landmark in Bao’an district, Shenzhen, China.
Following EHang’s strategic partnership with the Shenzhen Bao’an District Government in July 2023, this significant milestone is said to mark another big step forward towards the parties’ joint efforts for the launch of aerial sightseeing services for the next phase.
This UAM Center was swiftly built within a four-month period by Bao’an Transportation Group with the support from the Bao’an District Government. It covers a total area of approximately 4,600 square meters, hosting a comprehensive set of facilities including a bespoke vertiport for EHang’s passenger-carrying pilotless eVTOL aircraft EH216-S, hangars, a command-and-control center, passenger waiting area, a service center, and various expended essential amenities.
At a recent launch event for the UAM Center, EH216-S successfully completed its demo flight over OH Bay, which was witnessed by local government officials, regulators, enterprise representatives and citizens.
Meanwhile, Bao’an Transportation Group entered into a letter of intent on cooperation with EHang. Two parties will continue to work together to set up an operation demonstration model for passenger-carrying unmanned aerial vehicles and to build a low-altitude economy ecosystem in Shenzhen.
In recent years, Shenzhen is said to have been at the forefront of implementing favorable policies for the development of the low-altitude economy, a strategic emerging industry in China. Efforts range from relaxing aerospace restrictions to providing infrastructure support and site operations for enterprises to conduct trial services. Multi-party joint efforts will be dedicated to systematically developing a benchmark for UAM operations, thereby facilitating the establishment of Shenzhen’s low-altitude economy system framework.
A representative of Bao’an Transportation Group commented, following the launch of the China’s first UAM Center for passenger-carrying unmanned aerial vehicles, Bao’an Transportation Group will continue to cooperate with EHang to set up more UAM operation sites and flight routes for low-altitude aerial sightseeing and tourism services in Bao’an district. Besides, Bao’an Transportation Group will further establish the Low-Altitude Economy Industry Public Service Center, the Unmanned Aerial System Application Test Base, and the Low-Altitude Industrial Park in Bao’an district.
Guanshen Xu, Chairman of Pengcheng Wings, said; “We are delighted to collaborate with industry-leading company EHang to jointly promote the commercial operation of low-altitude economy applications in Shenzhen. Starting from the UAM Operation Demonstration Center at OH Bay, we look forward to carrying out services with EH216-S and pioneering low-altitude operational demonstration cases that will extend to the entire Shenzhen region and even the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.”
Xin Fang, Chief Operating Officer of EHang, added; “We are thrilled that, with the support of the government, our customer and partner, our collaboration has led to significant progress in Bao’an, which includes the successful launch of the first UAM Operation Demonstration Center in Shenzhen. The UAM operations and services make up an elaborate system that requires comprehensive preparatory groundwork. Following the major milestones of obtaining the first-of-its-kind Type Certificate and Standard Airworthiness Certificate for EH216-S, establishing the UAM operation site and infrastructure is another key achievement. With our extensive experience in trial operations, EHang is poised to take the lead in developing operational benchmarks for UAM. This will further drive the growth of the low-altitude economy industry in Shenzhen as well as in the Greater Bay Area.”
