China-based company Ehang has received airworthiness certification for its autonomous, passenger-carrying air taxis.
The EH216-S air taxis are electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft that can carry up to two passengers or 600 pounds of cargo.
They are controlled by a centralized command center and can take off and land vertically from any flat surface. (Trending: Donald Trump Is A ‘Cockroach’ That Just Won’t Go Away)
👉 China has approved the world’s first flying taxi.
✅️ Ehang just received approval for fully autonomous flights of its electric air taxi in China. Self-driving flying taxis are here. pic.twitter.com/Oja0NYuTre
— Pablo Anaya (@panayat) October 29, 2023
The taxis are powered by electricity, have low noise levels, and can be fully charged in two hours.
They have multiple redundancies and safety features, including emergency landing systems and parachutes.
Ehang has conducted over 40,000 test flights and received certification after a thorough evaluation process.
“Since 2014, over 40,000 test flights have been conducted in various locations around the world. In January 2021, Ehang applied for a type certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), which is the official recognition of the airworthiness of an aircraft,” the report found.
The company plans to launch commercial operations in China. (Trending: Joe Biden Historic Take Down of Guns)
The air taxis have potential applications for urban air mobility, including transportation, delivery services, and emergency situations.
Ehang faces challenges in terms of regulation, technology, market demand, and social acceptance, but is working to establish standards and policies and raise awareness through public demonstrations.
World’s first certified passenger-carrying air taxi takes flight https://t.co/8TAmYolxpF pic.twitter.com/AO5rDgZG7i
— New York Post (@nypost) October 29, 2023
