The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) announced on Saturday that two Chinese companies have been issued with the operation certificates for autonomous passenger drones. This indicates that China has now stepped into the commercial operation phase of autonomous passenger drones.
These two certificates, which are the first batch of their kind in China, were awarded to EHang Holdings Limited, a drone manufacturer in Guangdong Province in southern China, and Hefei Hey Airlines Co., Ltd. in Anhui Province in eastern China.
The operation certificate serves to verify that the autonomous passenger drone complies with safety operation standards and operational requirements. Companies possessing this certificate are permitted to conduct commercial operations within approved areas, offer paid passenger services, and engage in other services related to the low – altitude economy.
Citizens and consumers will be able to buy tickets at the operation sites in Guangzhou and Hefei to enjoy low – altitude tours, city sightseeing, and a wide range of commercial passenger services.