Chinese company EHang has carried out the first-ever urban autonomous passenger eVTOL flight in Bangkok, Thailand.
The pilotless two-seat EHang 216-S executed multiple take-offs and landings in Bangkok’s business district as part of an advanced air mobility (AAM) sandbox initiative. In partnership with the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), the event represents a significant milestone for autonomous air taxis.
Among the passengers to fly in the aircraft was Air Chief Marshal Manat Chavanaprayoon, the Director General of CAAT, who became the first head of a civil aviation authority to ride the EHang aircraft. Conor Yang, Chief Financial Officer of EHang, said:
With the support of the CAAT, Thailand is highly likely to achieve the world’s first commercial eVTOL operations using an innovative regulatory approach of “sandbox”, creating a demonstration model for Southeast Asia and the world.
This week’s display in Bangkok hopes to prove the commercial potential of the tech in Thailand, a country EHang has identified as a significant potential market. Plans anticipate the company to collaborate with local partners in establishing air taxi services across the capital, as well as at Pattaya, Phuket, and Koh Samui.
Earlier in November, competitors Joby Aviation completed the world’s first crewed eVTOL flight in a demonstration at the Dubai Airshow, as commercialisation of AAM tech becomes imminent.
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