EHang secures China's first Air Operator Certificate for civil human-carrying pilotless aerial vehicles

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- EHang, a global leading player in the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) domain, announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Guangdong EHang General Aviation Co., Ltd. ("EHang General Aviation"), and its joint venture, Hefei HeYi Aviation Co., Ltd. ("HeYi Aviation"), have been granted China's first Air Operator Certificates (OCs) for civil human-carrying pilotless aerial vehicles.

Photo credit: EHang

The certificates, issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China ("CAAC") on March 28, mark a historic milestone in the country's low-altitude economy, officially launching the era of passenger drone flights.

With these certifications, passengers can now purchase tickets for low-altitude tourism, urban sightseeing, and other commercial air travel services in Guangzhou and Hefei. As operations evolve, operators plan to gradually expand into additional use cases, including urban commuting, in compliance with regulatory requirements. The issuance of the first batch of OCs not only sets a new standard for urban air mobility but also injects fresh momentum into the growth of China's low-altitude economy.

EHang has already secured several groundbreaking certifications, including the world's first type certificate (TC), standard airworthiness certificate (AC), and production certificate (PC) for pilotless human-carrying eVTOL aircraft. With the addition of the OC, EHang has become the first eVTOL company globally to achieve a full suite of regulatory approvals—an essential step toward large-scale commercialization of autonomous passenger drone services.

Committed to ensuring safe, regulated, and legally compliant operations, EHang said it would continue working with partners to expand commercial flight routes and establish additional low-altitude transportation hubs in Guangzhou, Hefei, and other cities. By supporting local operators in obtaining OCs, EHang aims to bring regular low-altitude tourism flights, urban sightseeing, and a broader range of commercial air mobility services to more regions across China.