China’s EHang and one of its local partners have become the first companies in the world to receive air operator certificates (AOCs) covering commercial passenger-carrying flights in eVTOL aircraft. On March 30, the manufacturer announced that its subsidiary Guangdong EHang General Aviation and its joint venture Hefei HeYi Aviation had received the approvals from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

The AOCs cover what EHang described as “low-altitude tourism” and “urban sightseeing” flights with the autonomous, two-seat EH216-S vehicle in the cities of Guangzhou and Hefei. In the future, the company said, the terms of the AOC will be extended to include “other scenarios such as urban commuting.”

It has taken almost 18 months to secure the first AOCs for EHang’s pilotless eVTOL aircraft since the CAAC issued the type certificate for the EH216-S model. In early April 2024, the regulator granted EHang a production certificate to expand manufacturing volumes, and it has also permitted demonstration flights to take place at various locations in China.

According to EHang, it will work with other partners to expand commercial operations in additional Chinese cities. The company said it will support local operators in their efforts to secure the required AOCs.

U.S. eVTOL aircraft developers Joby and Archer are not expected to complete FAA type certification for their piloted aircraft before the end of 2025. Both companies already hold air operator certificates covering existing fixed-wing aircraft and have been working on plans to launch commercial air taxi services in U.S. cities and the UAE.