EHang’s proprietary EH216-S pilotless human-carrying electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft has successfully executed its first public flight at Hong Kong Cyberport.
The flight represents the initial public demonstration since phase-one validation flights began in mid-August under the HKSAR Government’s Low-Altitude Economy “Regulatory Sandbox X” Trial Project. The initiative serves to validate regular operations across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and support the buildout of a three-dimensional low-altitude transportation network.
Taking off from the Cyberport waterfront vertiport, the aircraft executed autonomous vertical take-off and landing, low-altitude cruising, and hovering along pre-programmed routes to demonstrate system reliability and flight control capabilities. Additional flight sessions are scheduled at Cyberport to test system reliability and safety under high-frequency operational parameters.
EHang is collaborating with Kwoon Chung Smart Mobility Company Limited and Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited to prepare for commercialization under the initiative. The EH216-S holds a Type Certificate, Production Certificate, and Standard Airworthiness Certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China. The project will continue conducting systematic validation flights within the controlled environment of Regulatory Sandbox X to collect real-world operational data to assist regulators in refining framework standards for pilotless aircraft.
Michael Wong, Deputy Financial Secretary and Head of the Working Group on Developing Low Altitude Economy, said, “Today’s inaugural trial flight of unconventional aircraft marks an important milestone in the development of Hong Kong’s low-altitude economy. We are grateful to Kwoon Chung, EHang and Cyberport teams for bringing this aircraft to Hong Kong. Building on the successful experience of the Low-altitude Economy Regulatory Sandbox launched in March last year, the Government has subsequently introduced ‘Regulatory Sandbox X’ to test more complex applications. The first batch of 33 pilot projects has been undergoing tests in phases since the first half of this year, including four non-conventional aircraft projects. The Government is also studying dedicated legislation for non-conventional aircraft, with drafting work targeted for completion in 2027. The National 15th Five-Year Plan clearly sets out the goal of promoting the healthy and orderly development of the low-altitude economy. The HKSAR Government is taking proactive steps to support this national development, positioning Hong Kong as a hub for innovative low-altitude applications in the Asia-Pacific region, and continuing to leverage Hong Kong’s strengths to contribute to our country’s needs.”
Simon Chan, Chairman of Cyberport, said, “The National 15th Five-Year Plan highlights the need to foster emerging industries such as the LAE, leveraging the LAE to lead the development of a more diversified digital and intelligent economy. Under the guidance of the HKSAR Government’s focus on developing the LAE, Cyberport actively supports the initiative as the venue partner for the Regulatory Sandbox, continuously enhancing low‑altitude flight support facilities and environments, supporting diversified application testing, and accumulating substantial operational data to accelerate technology translation and regularised applications. We look forward to joining hands with the Government and industry partners, connecting over 20 Cyberport companies focused on drone applications and LAE development, to foster a vibrant ecosystem of R&D and applications, attract innovation forces from Hong Kong and abroad, and help build Hong Kong into an international hub for innovative low-altitude applications.”
Timothy Wong, Executive Director of Kwoon Chung Bus, commented, “Kwoon Chung Bus is honoured to join hands with Cyberport and EHang to advance the commercialisation of LAE in Hong Kong. As a pioneer in local public transport operations, KC Smart Mobility is not only a promoter of eVTOL operations, but also a builder of the ‘Smart Land‑Air Intermodal’ ecosystem. We are actively advancing multiple autonomous driving projects in Hong Kong by integrating ground autonomous fleets with low-altitude aerial routes, we aspire to create a one‑stop 3D travel experience of ‘ground connection and direct air access’ for Hong Kong citizens and visitors, fully supporting Hong Kong’s development into an international smart mobility model city.”
Zhao Wang, Chief Operating Officer of EHang, added, “The first public flight of the EH216-S under the Project marks an important validation under the sandbox approach and further demonstrates the maturity of our technology standards and safety systems. The sandbox approach provides a practical pathway for validating emerging aircraft and establishing regulatory frameworks—providing real-world flight data generated in a safe and controlled environment to support regulatory assessment. EHang provides not only safe and reliable aircraft, but also integrated set of capabilities spanning technology standards, safety systems, and operational expertise. Our team’s experience in flight planning, regulatory compliance, and safety assurance has been instrumental in supporting the efficient implementation of this Project. For markets that have yet to establish regulatory frameworks for pilotless aircraft, the sandbox approach offers a replicable model for introducing pilotless aviation. Building on this sandbox model and our Global Fast Track Program, EHang will continue to expand across Asia and other global markets and steadily advance the commercialization and deployment of pilotless human-carrying eVTOL operations.”
