BEIJING (Agencies): The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has made history by granting the first-ever civil unmanned aircraft Operator Certificates (OC) to two Chinese companies, EHang Holdings Limited and Hefei Hey Airlines Co, signaling a new era of commercial urban air mobility in China’s low-altitude aviation sector.
The OC certifies that these autonomous passenger drones meet stringent safety operation standards, enabling the companies to conduct paid passenger services within approved airspace. EHang’s EH216-S, the world’s first and China’s only passenger-carrying electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to obtain all three essential aviation certificates—Type Certificate, Production Certificate, and Airworthiness Certificate—has already completed over 60,000 safe flights. The aircraft is set to revolutionize urban air mobility by facilitating logistics, tourism, and intra-city transport.
This milestone is seen as a major advancement in the development of China’s low-altitude economy, aligning with efforts to integrate cutting-edge technology into urban transportation solutions. Industry experts compare this regulatory milestone to “building cars,” emphasizing that while previous certificates established a drone’s capability to be built, the OC certifies its operational readiness on “the road”—or in this case, the air.
EHang and Hefei Hey Airlines are now positioned to lead the commercialization of passenger drone services, a move expected to enhance connectivity, efficiency, and innovation in urban environments. The issuance of these certificates underscores China’s commitment to becoming a global leader in drone technology and urban mobility solutions.