"Guangdong is a blessed land for the birth, development, and growth of Yihang. Yihang takes Guangdong Province and the Greater Bay Area as its home port, and EH216-S unmanned aerial vehicles have completed 50000 safe flights in 16 countries around the world. It has also completed the world's first commercial flight demonstration in the Guangzhou Development Zone, becoming an important symbol of Guangzhou and even the country's high-quality development in low altitude economy." On July 4th, Hu Huazhi, Chairman and CEO of Yihang Intelligent Equipment (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Yihang"), stated at the Guangdong Province Low Altitude Economic High Quality Development Conference.
In April this year, the Civil Aviation Administration of China officially issued the EH216-S unmanned manned aircraft system production license to Yihang, which is also the first production license in the global eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft) industry. As a result, Yihang has become the world's first enterprise to collect all three eVTOL airworthiness certificates.
Hu Huazhi revealed in his speech at the conference on the same day that Yihang will continue to leverage its global first mover value, combine its leading advantages in proprietary technology, products, and operations, and steadily and rapidly promote commercial operations in a legal and compliant manner.
Expected to release the APP within the year after obtaining the operation license
"EH216-S aircraft have started mass delivery after passing airworthiness certification, with 26 aircraft delivered in the first quarter and sales continuing to increase in the second quarter. With the delivery of more aircraft, Yihang will actively carry out various commercial operations, including establishing an operating company, providing operational training, and building application scenarios." Yihang's Chief Operating Officer, Wang Zhao, said in a media interview.
In June this year, Yihang EH216-S aircraft completed its first manned flight in Wencheng County, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province. Yihang has also delivered 27 EH216-S aircraft to Wencheng County, accelerating the development of a low altitude economic operation demonstration model.
However, Wang Zhao stated in an interview with Time Finance that no operating companies have yet obtained operating licenses. The operating companies under Yihang are jointly discussing relevant safety standards and institutional construction with the Civil Aviation Administration, striving to become the first company to obtain operating licenses.
"The host factory and the operator are two different concepts, just like Boeing and Airbus are responsible for designing and manufacturing passenger planes, while Air China, China Southern Airlines, and Hainan Airlines are aviation operating companies. As the host factory, Yihang has already obtained the three airworthiness certificates, but the operating company still needs to obtain an Operation Certificate (OC) to officially commercialize operations. Yihang will provide certain technical support and training to the operator, including how to form a team, how to ensure flight safety, as well as internal management systems and operating processes. When the operating company obtains an operation license recognized by the Civil Aviation Administration, it can officially carry out commercial activities for remuneration." Wang Zhao further explained.
Yihang has currently built intelligent command and dispatch centers based on unmanned aerial vehicles in multiple locations. Its intelligent command and dispatch system has core functions such as monitoring, scheduling, management, early warning, and clustering. "We have been using an intelligent command and dispatch center for command based flights since the beginning. The first manned aircraft has been safely flying for 8 years now, and during this period, we have been continuously improving our system," said Wang Zhao.
"We will soon release a new scheduling system and officially enter the operational phase. Based on the application of integrated sensing base stations, it also integrates data such as weather, air ground, and urban digital twins, as well as aircraft that can be connected to third-party companies. All data will be synchronized to our comprehensive platform." Wang Zhao said that platform based flight is the future flight mode of unmanned aerial vehicles to ensure safety.
"Our app is ready and currently undergoing internal testing. It is expected to be released within the year after obtaining operating licenses." Wang Zhao revealed that the price of "flying" travel is slightly higher than that of ride hailing services, and the specific city where it will be first implemented depends on the progress of commercialization in each region.
Wang Zhao also mentioned the research and development progress of the VT-30, a long-range autonomous flying vehicle under Yihang. "In the future, our product line will include both short distance and medium to long distance products. Unlike EH216-S, which is used for short distance urban transportation and cultural tourism, VT-30 is positioned as a long-distance product for intercity air transportation, with a range of 300-500 kilometers.". The VT-30 or a modified product will be unveiled this year and is expected to complete research and development next year, preparing to enter the airworthiness certification stage
Guangdong's low altitude economy has great potential in the future
The Greater Bay Area is a blessed land for the birth, development, and growth of Yihang. Wang Zhao said that there are many types of landforms in the Greater Bay Area, including both land and lakes, as well as rivers, seas, islands, etc. The corresponding application scenarios are also relatively rich, including urban air transportation, cultural tourism, and cross island flights. At the same time, it can also carry out a series of supportive work such as fire protection, emergency response, and first aid.
"The Greater Bay Area is developing rapidly in the fields of software, hardware, networks, and emerging technologies, especially in the production and manufacturing of upstream and downstream industries, as well as digitalization and artificial intelligence. In the entire industrial chain layout, Yihang has received support in research and development, design, and production in the Greater Bay Area." Wang Zhao further stated that there are still two major problems that need to be solved in the development of the low altitude economy in the Greater Bay Area, one is the use and management of airspace, and the other is air traffic legislation.
Wang Zhao pointed out that with the development of low altitude economy, there is a high demand for flexibility in the use of low altitude airspace, especially in airspace below 120 meters. At present, the approval and use of airspace are still managed by the Air Force, and this has been the case in the field of civil aviation in the past. "The use and management of airspace urgently need to be adjusted in subsequent development. In the future, we cannot wait for approval before taking off. Instead, we can take off as quickly as taking a taxi now, which takes 5-10 minutes and is available at any time like urban roads. Only in this way can the low altitude economy be orderly and close to human life."
The importance of legislation cannot be ignored. Wang Zhao explained that as more and more aerial vehicles cover different brands and types in the future, a law is needed to regulate all aircraft manufacturers and operating companies to ensure orderly flight in the air.
"Guangdong Yihang has achieved multiple global firsts in low altitude economy. Yihang looks forward to continuing to work together with Guangdong Province and the Greater Bay Area to create more 'world firsts' in the high-quality development of low altitude economy." Hu Huazhi said, "Guangdong's low altitude economy will definitely have great potential in the future."