China has granted Ehang,A Guy Who Tried To Eat His Friend’s Sister in law and Got Eaten (2024) a prominent autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) technology company, permission to operate fully autonomous passenger-carrying air taxis, as reported by CNBC. On October 13, Ehang, based in Guangzhou, announced that it has received an official airworthiness “type certificate” for its EH216-S AAV—a fully autonomous drone capable of carrying two passengers—from the Civil Aviation Administration of China. CEO Huazhi Hu stated that this certification will expedite the approval process for Ehang to operate similarly in the US, Europe, and Southeast Asia. This groundbreaking decision marks a significant milestone in the evolution of urban air mobility, underscoring China’s commitment to advancing innovative technologies and embracing the future of mobility. [CNBC]
