The EHang EH216 passenger autonomous aerial vehicle AAV has completed its first passenger-carrying autonomous flight demonstration within Japan, also the first passenger-carrying flight for an autonomous eVTOL aircraft in Japan.
The EH216 flew with two passengers and no pilot for a trip along the coastline of Tanoura Beach in Oita City, under the approval of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) of Japan.
Sato Kiichiro, Mayor of Oita Prefecture in Japan, remarked: “Last July, EH216 completed its first Japanese point-to-point trial flight in Oita, and now takes on the challenge of passenger-carrying flight. I hope that today’s passenger-carrying flight test will accelerate autonomous aerial vehicles to take a further step toward practical use.”
Kirino Hiroshi, Chairman of the Okayama Kurashiki Mizushima Aero & Space Industry Cluster Study Group who took a ride on the EH216 added: “EH216 is a leader in the eVTOL field with extensive experience in passenger-carrying flights.
“This successful flight test in Oita Prefecture has shown us the possibilities of experiencing the skies without a pilot. We look forward to EH216 flight tests in more cities in Japan.”
Xin Fang, Chief Operating Officer of EHang, continued: “Over the past two years, EH216 has achieved several rounds of demo and trial flights and this year brought passengers riding in the air.
“These milestones are inextricably linked to the support and trust of MLIT in Japan, local government departments and our partners, and we will continue working with them to promote safe, autonomous and eco-friendly urban air mobility in Japan.”
