Air Taxi Company Takes First Flight in Brazil; Pilotless

Chinese flying taxi company EHang Holdings flew its pilotless electric aerial vehicle (EAV) in Brazil for the first time.

The EHang EH216-S took the test flight in Quadra, near the Sao Paulo region, in partnership with its local operator Gohobby Future Technologies.

EHang and Gohobby plan to conduct test flight campaigns with Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) and Brazil’s Airspace Control Department (DECEA). 

EHang recently received approval for flight tests of its pilotless EAV, receiving the Experimental Flight Authorization Certificate, allowing the company to test and demonstrate its intelligent flight technology and cluster management system.

The exercises are intended to advance development concepts involving unmanned aircraft traffic management systems for efficient urban air mobility (UAM) deployments across Brazil using the EHang eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) vehicle.

“We are delighted to have commenced EH216-S pilotless eVTOL flights in Brazil,” said Victoria Xiang, chief operating officer of EHang Europe and Latin America. “This is a significant milestone in EHang's commitment to developing Advanced Air Mobility worldwide. The ongoing test and trial flight campaigns for the EH216-S in Brazil will allow us to accrue a vast amount of data, information, and operational experience which in turn, will pave the way for developing safe, efficient, eco-friendly and accessible Urban Air Mobility for everyone across Brazil and Latin America."

Related:Air Taxi Company Approved for Test Flights in Brazil

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EHang and its local partners have carried out more than 50,000 flights in 17 countries across Asia, Europe, North America and Latin America, according to the company.

EHang has received its Type Certificate, Production Certificate and Standard Certificate of Airworthiness for the EH216-S from the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

China and Brazil also signed cooperation agreements to strengthen the civil aviation partnership of the two countries.

EHang recently delivered 10 of its $410,000 eVTOLs to the Taiyuan Xishan Ecological Tourism Investment Construction Co. for local tourism.

The delivery followed a demonstration with the EAV flying with passengers on board. The flying vehicles can carry two passengers and fly autonomously.

EHang also featured its VT-30 long-range pilotless EH216-F for firefighting use and the EH216-L for logistics use. 

The firefighting vehicle was showcased at the Driftx in Abu Dhabi earlier this year.

Related:Flying Taxi Carries First Passenger; Pilotless Travel

It has rockets on top to break windows during a high-rise fire and a large nozzle protruding from the front to deliver fire retardant liquid from a tank at the bottom of the craft.

EHang also has an agreement with one of Hong Kong’s largest transportation companies to promote the operation of EHang’s eVTOL in Hong Kong, Macau and other cities in China.

The agreement with KC Smart Mobility Company, a subsidiary of KCBH, aims to use the EHang EAV for travel services.

EHang also has signed an agreement with China Southern Airlines General Aviation Company to create operation demonstration sites for low-altitude tourism and flight services.

The companies plan to create sites for flying EHang’s EAVs at Zhuhai Jiuzhou Airport and the Zhuhai Chimelong Ocean Kingdom.

That partnership also includes the development of use cases for pilotless eVTOL vehicles, which could include inter-island cargo transportation, emergency response and medical rescue transportation services.

EHang has taken passengers on demonstration flights as part of a tourism initiative.

EHang delivered 27 of its EAVs to Wencheng County Transportation Development Group in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, as part of a deal to sell 300 pilotless EAVs to the tourism development group.

EHang carried multiple passengers in low-altitude, sightseeing tours over Tianding Lake at the Baizhangji Fall and Feiyun Lake Scenic Resort, providing views of the general Wencheng area.

A takeoff and landing site for the two-passenger EAV was set up at the Scenic Resort. The UAM operation center and supporting infrastructure served as a model for other areas in Wencheng to establish aerial sightseeing services, according to the company

The autonomous flying taxi from EHang recently took its maiden autonomous flight in Saudi Arabia, flying in Mecca in conjunction with Front End Limited Company, a Saudi company that serves various industries.

In Saudi Arabia, EHang is supported by Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation, the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services, the Ministry of Hajj and the Ministry of Interior.

EHang has an agreement to sell 50 flying vehicles to Xishan Tourism in a $15 million deal.

Before the Saudi Arabia flight, EHang took its first passenger for a demonstration ride in Abu Dhabi, a passenger flight that followed demonstrations of the EAV conducted without passengers at the DriftX mobility expo in Abu Dhabi.

The EAV maker joined the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries Cluster in Abu Dhabi and formed a partnership with Wings Logistics Hub, a passenger eVTOL subsidiary of Technology Holding Company.

EAV battery charging times are expected to take fewer than 10 minutes for charging from 30% to 80%, according to EHang.

EHang also has flown a group of 12 EAVs together in China. In a video, the 12 flying vehicles took off together from an airfield in Hefei, China, on what appeared to be a snowy day.