EHang opens Europe-based unmanned eVTOL center

EHang Holdings Ltd. (EHang, Guangzhou, China), an urban air mobility (UAM) technology platform company, has inaugurated its first European UAM Center in Spain. Located inside the Lleida–Alguaire International Airport (LEDA), the center provides an example for the effective integration of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft operation with airport infrastructure, air traffic management systems, operational procedures and other information technologies, according to the company.

The inception of the UAM center arose from the collaboration agreement signed between EHang and Aeroports de Catalunya in the field of UAM. It will enable European aviation and airport sectors to be positioned at the forefront of global advanced air mobility.

In October 2023, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) issued type certificate (TC) for EHang’s EH216-S passenger-carrying unmanned aircraft vehicle (UAV) system. 

The EH216-S, deployed at EHang’s European UAM Center, will foster the accumulation of operational experience as well as invaluable knowledge, the company notes. By integrating vast flight experience gathered from various locations worldwide, the collective information can be leveraged to the development of technological solutions, regulations, processes and procedures for the safe and efficient integration of eVTOL aircraft into European airspace in the future.

The UAM Center includes a vertiport that is fully compliance with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) design criteria and will enable seamless incorporation with the airport terminal, platform, control tower, equipment, procedures and regulations. The vertiport can be used as an example for global UAM infrastructure, accumulating knowledge and experience on the vertiport establishment and operations, which will enable intelligent eVTOL operating models and facilitate their smart deployment across multiple locations.

For related content, read “EHang progresses operations, commercial deployment of EH216-S.”