On April 7, 2024, EHang, based in Guangzhou, announced that it had successfully obtained a Production Certificate for its EH216-Selectric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. This certificate signifies that the manufacturer has implemented a mass production quality management system that complies with CAAC’s airworthiness regulations.

According to EHang’s , the quality management system for the EH216-S covers everything from raw materials and supplier management to production organization, quality control during eVTOL aircraft production, testing before delivery, as well as repairs and maintenance after sales. This system has established clear rules and records for each step of the EH216-S production process, to ensure that every EH216-S and its parts made on the assembly line meet the CAAC-approved design and safety standards.

What do we know about EHang精东影业 EH216-S eVTOL aircraft so far?

The EH216-S is an autonomous two-passenger eVTOL multicopter aircraft, which obtained its airworthiness type certificate on October 13, 2023. The manufacturer claims to be the world’s first company to have obtained type certification for its eVTOL aircraft and states that it has secured pre-orders for more than 1,200 units internationally.

EHang sets retail guide price for the world精东影业 first certified eVTOL aircraft聽

• Aircraft
• Sustainability

byIan Molyneaux

2024-02-06

The EH216-S is a two-passenger eVTOL aircraft model developed for advanced air mobility (AAM) services. This aircraft can reach a cruise speed of up to 100 kilometers per hour (around 62 miles per hour) and attain a maximum speed of 130 kilometers per hour (81 miles per hour) at an altitude of up to 3,000 meters (9,843 feet). This model is powered by batteries, which require approximately 120 minutes to recharge.

Equipped with 16 propellers, 16 electric motors, and the fixed skid landing gear, the EH216-S can carry up to 220 kilograms (485 lbs) and can travel a distance of up to 35 kilometers (approximately 22 miles) within a 21-minute flight.

EHang signs deal with UAE firm to deliver 100 certified EH216 series eVTOLs

• Aircraft
• Sustainability

byIan Molyneaux

2023-12-19

The fuselage of this newcomer in the eVTOL aircraft market is built from carbon fiber composite, offering a high strength-to-weight ratio.

The Guangzhou-based Ehang聽made the stunning announcement on Friday, October 13, 2023, which means EHang精东影业 eVTOL aircraft is now able to fly passengers.聽

The type certificate was granted by the (CAAC) which has deemed that the EH216-S精东影业 model design fully complies with its聽safety standards and airworthiness requirements.聽

EHang, which trades on the US stock market, saw its share price jump as the business world took in the extraordinary news which could potentially revolutionize the aviation world. 

The CAAC first accepted EHang精东影业 EH216-S type certification application in January 2021, and since then the two entities have worked together to validate and verify the aircraft精东影业 technology.  

EH216-S is autonomous and can carry two passengers, so in comparison to some of the other eVTOL aircraft being developed it is much smaller and it remains to be seen how the vehicle will be used in the future.  

In a statement EHang said: 鈥淎fter more than 1,000 days and nights of persistent efforts, they overcame all kinds of difficulties and challenges to successfully complete all type certification objectives, proving that EHang is fully capable of independently designing, developing, and manufacturing mature unmanned eVTOL products.鈥澛�

We made it!

— EHang (@ehang)

CAAC assembled leading experts from local authorities, aviation institutions and research organizations, and formally published the Special Conditions for the EH216-S UAV System in February 2022.   

Amidst a global landscape where eVTOL aviation airworthiness regulations are still evolving, it is a of note that China has managed to formulate a rigorous and scientific regulatory framework of airworthiness certification for the EH216-S passenger-carrying UAV system.  

The certification can also act as a benchmark for more efficient and wide-scale airworthiness certification for aircraft of this kind in China and abroad. 

鈥淚 extend my heartfelt gratitude to CAAC, the expert team, and all EHang employees for their unwavering dedication. Our self-developed EH216-S passenger-carrying UAV system has finally met high expectation to secure the first TC in the global eVTOL industry, marking a significant chapter in civil aviation history,鈥� Huazhi Hu, founder, chairman and CEO of EHang said. 

He added: 鈥淓mbracing the TC as our springboard, we will launch commercial operations of the EH216-S unmanned eVTOLs, prioritizing safety above all. This will enable us to steadily progress towards our strategic goal to be a UAM platform operator, and commit to our mission to enable safe, autonomous, and eco-friendly air mobility accessible to everyone.鈥� 

Airbus Helicopters new single stick control paves way for user-friendly eVTOLs

• Aircraft

byIan Molyneaux

2023-10-11

The certification will allow H175 deliveries to begin in China, one of the most demanding markets worldwide for civil helicopters with a growing need for the super-medium segment.聽

Airbus Helicopters already has orders for four H175s and the company will now be able to deliver these to its customers in 2023.  

鈥淭he Chinese certification of the H175 is another great achievement in the continued successful partnership between Airbus Helicopters and the Chinese helicopter industry,鈥� said Bruno Even, CEO of . 鈥淭he H175精东影业 advanced state-of-the art performances and reliability will serve to provide the people of China with the ability to perform critical life-saving missions even in the most severe conditions.鈥澛�

The H175 first came into service in 2015 and Airbus hopes the helicopter will help 鈥渟ustain the helicopter market growth in China鈥�. 

鈥淎irbus Helicopters is committed to jointly work with the Chinese industry to develop the Chinese civil market with products such as the H175, aiming to serve the interests of the Chinese people and the economy,鈥� Airbus added in a statement on July 19, 2023.  

According to Airbus, the H175 can undertake a number of roles including offshore crew change, Search and Rescue, all public services, and private and business aviation. 

The 53 H175s currently in service have accumulated over 185,000 flight hours in 13 countries. 

On July 13, 2023, the Chinese Y12F twin-engine turboprop aircraft was granted certification by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).聽

Exploring the use of robotics and automation to enhance airport ground handling

• Aviation Technology and Innovation

byJean Carmela Lim

2024-07-06

According to the manufacturer, the approval opens the opportunity for the planemaker to re-enter the Chinese market with a firm order from an undisclosed customer for three planes of the type.  

鈥淭he most sustainable option for regional air travel, the ATR 42-600 is an ideal route opener for China, a vast country looking to grow essential connections profitably and responsibly,鈥� ATR said in a released on November 8, 2022.  

鈥淏y 2035, we anticipate that over 150 airports will be built in China and turboprops will play a key role in creating a new network of short, thin routes, complementing the high-speed train offering,鈥� ATR精东影业 senior vice-president commercial Fabrice Vautier said.  

ATR: the Franco-Italian success story

• Aviation Manufacturing

byAlec Wignall

2022-11-07

Vautier also said that the company精东影业 20-year forecast 鈥減redicts a need for 280 new turboprops鈥� to be introduced in the region.  

Launched in 2007, the ATR 42-600 turboprop features the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127XT-M engine. The engine provides at least 5% additional thrust, improving performance on short runways, in hot weather, and at high altitudes, according to the manufacturer.   

ATR anticipates the 42-600 will provide an 鈥渆co-responsible鈥� alternative to jets for China and contribute 鈥渢o decreasing the reliance on public subsidies and delivering reduced CO2 emissions鈥�. 

Boeing seeks to 鈥渄erisk鈥� China, remarket aircraft to other airlines

• Aircraft

byVictoria Bryan

2022-10-28

China精东影业 largest 737 MAX operator, China Southern Airlines, has completed a test flight of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, as sign that the country精东影业 aviation regulator could be closer to certifying the jet to fly again,  reported.  

An aviation content creator in China called FATII Aviation has also spotted the carrier’s 737 MAX taking off from Guangzhou Baiyun.  

. is now conducting the first 737 MAX test flight since the grounding. A significant step for 737 MAX in China. China Southern is the largest operator of the MAX in China.

鈥� FATIII Aviation (@FATIIIAviation)

精东影业 has asked China Southern Airlines (ZNH) and Boeing for a comment.  

In December 2021, the China Civil Aviation Authority (CAAC) issued an airworthiness directive (AD) on the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The AD instructs airline operators on the revisions required before the MAX is recertified. However, it did not specify when China would lift a ban on the MAX in its airspace. 

China moves a step closer to allowing 737 MAX flights with new directive

• Aircraft

byVictoria Bryan

2021-12-02

Getting approval to fly again in China would be a significant boost for Boeing. The country is one of the last major countries not to have recertified the 737 MAX to fly again.   

China was the first country to ground the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in 2019 after the two deadly crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia claimed 346 lives. 

The main aviation regulators such as the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), or Transport Canada (TC), have already reapproved the commercial use of the 737 MAX. 

The Director-general of the Department of Development Planning at the CAAC, Han Jun, said that the 270 civil airports will increase passenger traffic and boost cargo activities, resulting in 930 million travelers flying and 9.5 million tons of freight delivered annually. 

According to the CAAC, China had 241 certified civil airports at the end of 2020. During that year, 114 airport projects were either started or continued. 

The total number of airports at the end of 2020 was 58 more than China had just eight years earlier, in 2012. That is equivalent to around seven new airports being opened each year.   

How China精东影业 airport plans will make it the world精东影业 largest passenger market鈥屸�屸��

• East & Southeast Asia

byVictoria Bryan

2021-10-27

鈥淪tarting from April 19, 2021, the flight [MU588 – ed.note] will be suspended for 4 weeks. Flights on this route entering before April 19 can continue to be executed,鈥� the Civil Aviation Administration of China wrote in a statement. 

The report by Chinese regulator showed that there were ten individuals carrying the COVID-19 infection on flight MU588 from New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) on March 30, 2021. 

In a statement, the Chinese regulator also noted that China Eastern Airlines (CIAH) (CEA) would be required to guide passengers through the process of refunding and changing tickets for subsequent flights from New York to Shanghai that would be re-commenced on May 10, 2021.

China精东影业 鈥楤ig Three鈥� predict total loss of nearly $4.6 billion

• Aviation in China

byVyte Klisauskaite

2021-02-02

Cathay精东影业 Board of Directors 鈥渂elieves that it is the right time for new leadership to take Cathay Pacific forward鈥�, even though both Hogg and Loo were announced as the management that would lead the airline精东影业 鈥渢hree-year corporate transformation programme鈥� The transformation program, which is due to be completed by the end of 2019, has produced fruitful results 鈥� Cathay Pacific managed to achieve a net profit in 2018 for the first time since 2015 and has steadily grown in H1 2019. The company reported a net profit of $172 million (HK$1,347 billion).

Rupert Hogg, the departing CEO, commented that 鈥渢hese have been challenging weeks for the airline and it is right that Paul [Paul Loo 鈥� ed. note] and I take responsibility as leaders of the company鈥�. The chairman of the company, John Slosar noted that the recent events 鈥渉ave called into question Cathay Pacific精东影业 commitment to flight safety and security and put our reputation and brand under pressure鈥�, thus it was 鈥渢ime to put a new management team in place who can reset confidence and lead the airline to new heights鈥�. , both Hogg and Loo were forced out of the company after CAAC called up Merlin Swire, the chairman of Swire Pacific and explained to him that management changes had to come at the airline group. Swire Pacific is the biggest shareholder of Cathay Pacific.

Cathay Pacific already had to change its stance on the protests: from John Slosar saying that the airline 鈥渨ouldn鈥榯 dream of telling them what they [Cathay Pacific employees 鈥� ed. note] have to think about something鈥�, to Cathay Pacific that the Hong Kongese carrier 鈥渋s deeply concerned by the ongoing violence and disruption impacting Hong Kong鈥� and condemns 鈥渁ll illegal activities and violent behaviour鈥�. The airline two pilots in accordance to the CAAC精东影业 鈥渟afety risk warning鈥�.  It seems like the protests will also hit the airline financially, as the events in Hong Kong are 鈥渁dversely impacting forward bookings鈥�. Furthermore, Cathay Pacific a total of 272 flights, which affected more than 55,000 passengers, as protestors assembled at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) on August 12 and 13.

And now, with the changes within the Board to comply withChina精东影业 wishes, as , Cathay Pacific might need to look back at the drawing board once more to ensure profitability. While the previous management laid out great foundations as it reduced the group精东影业 expenses and stabilized the group精东影业 finances, the changes and the ongoing protests might negate all the positive work that has been done over the past two years.