China has approved the world's first flying taxi, which is expected to revolutionize urban air transportation.
China has approved the world's first flying taxi, which is expected to revolutionize urban air transportation.
The EH216 drone taxi, produced by the company EHang, consists of sixteen propellers surrounding a cabin that can accommodate two people. Since the flying vehicle is fully autonomous, there is no need for a pilot to operate the vehicle.
The flying taxi has obtained an approval certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China proving its safety and navigability. This approval paves the way for flying taxis to be operated commercially in the country.
EHang Chairman of the Board Hu Huazhi said that they carried out 40 thousand test flights with the flying vehicle and ensured maximum safety. Hu said, “In this context, the important thing is to guarantee the safety of flying vehicles. Even if there is a faulty or defective part, these drones can always fly normally and land safely.”
Commercial operation of flying taxis is expected to be launched in the short term. This will be a global first for EHang, which was founded in 2014, and will position it as one of the world leaders in urban air transportation.