Air Taxi Company Makes First Passenger Flights in Thailand; Pilotless

Chinese flying taxi company EHang Holdings has conducted its first passenger flights in Thailand in advance of setting up commercial flight operations there.

The flights in the EHang EH216-S pilotless eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) vehicle were conducted at the renowned Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in central Bangkok.

EHang received permission for the flights from the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), and the electric aerial vehicle (EAV) maker plans to conduct flight tests in Thailand and launch commercial operations in the regions of Phuket and Koh Samui by 2025.

As part of its mission of expanding urban air mobility (UAM), EHang made several passenger flights, including carrying as passengers Phasu Manipanti, CEO of Sky Image Tech, EHang's partner in Thailand, and Sorasit Thongjeen, first officer, flight operations of Bangkok Airways.

"The debut passenger flights of our EH216-S pilotless eVTOL in Thailand is a key milestone in EHang's ongoing international development and that is a strong boost in promoting the transformation of global advanced urban air mobility," said Monor Yang, chief financial officer of EHang. "We aim to apply our pilotless eVTOL products and solutions in the Southeast Asian market. In the future, with the strong support of the CAAT, we will cooperate with our local partners to formulate a model for regular UAM operations in Thailand, contributing to the development of the urban air mobility market in Southeast Asia and worldwide."

Traditional water transportation methods around the many islands of Thailand can be time-consuming. The EHang EAV would be used for island-hopping services, according to the company.

EHang recently partnered with the Civil Aviation Flight University of China (CAFUC) to collaborate to develop and train operator and maintenance staff for large civil urban aerial vehicles (UAV).

The university, created by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and the government of Sichuan Province, develops pilot licensing frameworks and specializes in regulations and standards for UAV operators.

EHang has obtained three airworthiness certificates from the CAAC for its EH216-S pilotless eVTOL.

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.

For example, the air taxi company test flew its EAV in Brazil, 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 and Brazil's Airspace Control Department.

EHang had received approval for flight tests, 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 UAM deployments across Brazil using the EHang eVTOL.

EHang has received its Type Certificate, Production Certificate and Standard Certificate of Airworthiness for the EH216-S from the CAAC.

The company recently delivered 10 of its USD410,000 eVTOLs to the Taiyuan Xishan Ecological Tourism Investment Construction Co. for local tourism, following a demonstration 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 Driftx in Abu Dhabi earlier this year. 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 aims to use the 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 includes the development of use cases for pilotless eVTOLs, which could include inter-island cargo transportation, emergency response and medical rescue transportation services.

EHang delivered 27 flying vehicles to Wencheng County Transportation Development Group in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, as part of a deal to sell 300 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.

The flying taxi also has made autonomous flights in Saudi Arabia, flying in Mecca in conjunction with Front End Limited Company.

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 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 the company.

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.