EHang’s EH216-S pilotless eVTOL has completed its first passenger-carrying demo flight in Abu Dhabi.
The flight is also believed to be the first of its kind in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Middle East.
Additionally, the EH216-F (for high-rise firefighting) and EH216-L (for aerial logistics) demonstrated their debut flights in the UAE, showcasing a diverse range of UAM use scenarios of pilotless eVTOL aircraft.
The EH216 series pilotless eVTOL aircraft, including the EH216-S, EH216-L and EH216-F, performed several autonomous flights at the Emirates Falcons Aviation Club in Al Ali, Abu Dhabi with the approval by the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the UAE.
Mohamed Al Dhaheri, board member of Multi Level Group (MLG), EHang’s local strategic partner, took a ride on the EH216-S. These successful demo flights were said to have been applauded by esteemed guests, including Emirati royalty, civil aviation authorities, government officials and representatives of the media.
Following the EH216-S debut unmanned demo flights at the DRIFTx event on April 25, 2024, the recent flights represented a continuous fruitful outcome of EHang’s further development in the UAE supported by the GCAA, MLG and Wings Logistics Hub.
In close coordination with the partners and government entities in the UAE, EHang is said to be actively engaged in the design and establishment of eVTOL vertiports, in swift preparation for launching commercial UAM routes.
Mohamed Al Dhaheri, board member of MLG, said after his flight; “Being part of this historic moment is truly exhilarating. The seamless integration of technology and aviation represents a significant leap forward for our nation, and as an Emirati I am proud to be a part of it.”
Huazhi Hu, Founder, CEO, and Chairman of EHang, added; “After securing the approval for passenger-carrying demo flights and conducting the debut flight, we will actively foster collaboration and communication between the GCAA and the Civil Aviation Administration of China to expedite the progress towards commercial flights of our pilotless aircraft in the UAE, which will become a milestone in the advancement of Abu Dhabi and the global air mobility sector.
“With strong local government support and valued partnerships, EHang is poised to continue leading the change of UAM in the UAE and beyond.”
The EH216 series are designed as a transformative solutions in addressing urban mobility challenges such as emissions and congestion. The pilotless eVTOL aircraft feature a compact fuselage, high redundancy design and intelligent cluster management, enabling safety and efficiency as well as scalable operations, in order to provide safe, autonomous, and eco-friendly air mobility.
