EHang’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Guangdong EHang General Aviation Co., Ltd., and its joint venture, Hefei He Yi Aviation Co., Ltd., have received the first Air Operator Certificates (OCs) for civil pilotless human-carrying aerial vehicles.
This first batch of certificates comes from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).
This milestone marks the beginning of commercial operations involving human-carrying pilotless aerial vehicles in China’s low-altitude aviation sector. The certification enables citizens and consumers to purchase tickets for low-altitude tourism, urban sightseeing, and other commercial flight services at designated sites in Guangzhou and Hefei.
Looking ahead, operators plan to gradually expand operations to include additional scenarios, such as urban commuting, in accordance with regulatory requirements and operational readiness. The issuance of the first OCs establishes a regulatory precedent in the development of China’s low-altitude economy and urban air mobility sector.
EHang has previously obtained several regulatory certifications, including the world’s first type certificate (TC), standard airworthiness certificate (AC), and production certificate (PC) for pilotless, human-carrying eVTOL aircraft. With the addition of the OC, EHang is thought to be the first eVTOL company globally to secure a full set of regulatory certifications. This development represents a notable step toward the broader commercialization of low-altitude human-carrying aerial services.
EHang continues to build the qualifications and capabilities required for the safe and compliant operation of pilotless human-carrying aircraft. The company intends to work with additional partners to expand commercial operations and establish more low-altitude transportation centers in Guangzhou, Hefei, and other regions across China.
These efforts are expected to support local operators in applying for their own OCs, facilitating the launch of regular low-altitude tourism flights, urban sightseeing routes, and a broader range of commercial aerial services across multiple cities.
