The Civil Aviation Administration of China has accepted the application for Ehang's unmanned passenger aviation operation certificate (AOC). The industry is watching Ehang's progress in obtaining a certificate. Once it is obtained, it means that this channel can be used, and it will have a demonstrative effect on the subsequent company applications.
The Science and Technology Innovation Board Daily reported on July 23 (Reporter: Zhang Yangyang) that manned low-altitude aircraft is accelerating. Ehang Intelligence announced on the evening of July 22 that the Civil Aviation Administration of China has officially accepted the applications submitted by its wholly-owned subsidiary, EHang Air Navigation, and its joint venture operation company, Heyi Aviation, for the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) of the civil unmanned passenger aviation vehicle which specializes in UAM operation services. The two companies will carry out approvals for unmanned passenger drones' business operation and operating qualifications. The aviation authority has reached consensus with the applicants on the review process, review subjects, and review framework in many aspects.
The Civil Aviation Administration of China has recently formed a professional review team to carry out related review work in an official manner.
After the government work report this year mentioned the low-altitude economy, the industry has begun to accelerate its development. Domestic manufacturers are getting ready to run on the track of the low-altitude economy.
Sources close to Ehang Intelligence revealed to the Science and Technology Innovation Board Daily that the Civil Aviation Administration of China will only formally accept the application if they reach a consensus. Ehang has done a lot of preparation and communication work in the early stage. Acceptance is a crucial step, and they have already passed it. The standards for innovation are also being developed concurrently. It is believed that obtaining the certificate will not take long.
Just like the airworthiness certification of the earlier model, the OC certification of the EH216-S unmanned passenger drone cannot be qualified for certification directly using the established standards in the civil aviation field. Innovative and improvement work needs to be done on the basis of existing regulations to construct a new and appropriate standard system.
In March of this year, the Civil Aviation Administration of China publicly solicited opinions on the consultation notice of "Chapter 92 Operation Permission of China Civil Aviation Regulations" to promote the CCAR-92's orderly implementation of the operation permit for the civil unmanned aviation vehicle (UAVs) safety management rules. The notice clarifies the permit application process and requirements, standardizes the scope and key points of safety assessment, and refines operational management requirements.
Although the industry has policy support, due to the high research and development cost of low-altitude aircraft, different manufacturers have taken different commercial routes according to their respective strengths in carrying people and goods. Some choose to deliver goods first and then carry people, while others directly carry people.
"The future of the low-altitude economy must carry people." A high-level executive of a low-altitude economic company in Shanghai told the Science and Technology Innovation Board Daily, "But this road is too long." The executive said that at present, the cargo aviation certification of the low-altitude economic aircraft has set one billion yuan as the bottom line; in terms of carrying passengers, the amount is far more than that. R&D investment is enormous, and it does not mean that a certificate can be obtained just by investing.
In the field of domestic low-altitude economy with manned aircraft, besides Ehang, no other company has taken a substantial step. The company's eVTOL EH216-S aircraft has previously obtained the world's first unmanned passenger aviation vehicle production license.
"At present, our aircraft mainly carries cargo. Our eVTOL model has been formally accepted, and the Civil Aviation Administration of China has already held the first airworthiness certification meeting. We will gradually enter the field of passenger transportation in the future," said the above-mentioned executive.
"The industry is also watching Ehang's progress in obtaining a certificate. Once it is obtained, it means that this channel can be used, and it will have a demonstrative effect on the subsequent company applications. It will also have great stimulating significance for the industry," said the above-mentioned executive.