Smart and Autonomous Systems Council (SASC), Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), EHang and Multi Level Group (MLG), have partnered on organising “a landmark test flight of a passenger electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft as part of a public demonstration in the emirate,” according to Abu Dhabi government’s media office.
The demonstration focused on the flight of a pilotless EHang’s EH216-S.
“More than a technical milestone, the test flight represents a pivotal step towards integrating urban air mobility into everyday life, in line with the emirate’s vision of further enhancing innovation and artificial intelligence,” said the press statement. “The autonomous mission validated critical technologies, including hot-weather performance in Abu Dhabi’s climate alongside airspace coordination, route planning and vertiport operations. Conducted under the oversight of the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), the flight provided live proof of the regulatory, operational and infrastructure frameworks essential for safely scaling this new mode of transport.”
According to Badr Al Olama, Director-General at ADIO: “Today’s demonstration embodies Abu Dhabi’s future-forward ambition. Through the vision of the SASC, we’re turning future mobility into tangible nation building. With EHang and MLG, we are proving that urban air taxis will be a part of everyday life, here in Abu Dhabi and around the world. This is how we diversify our economy, cultivate homegrown capabilities and make the emirate a global leader in next-generation transport.”
Mohamed Salah, CEO of Advanced Mobility Hub, a subsidiary of MLG, said: “This public flight demonstration marks a pivotal milestone in our strategic partnership with EHang, one of the group’s most significant strategic collaborations. It reinforces our shared vision to lead the autonomous aerial mobility sector from the UAE to Africa and the Middle East. This cooperation is a key pillar in positioning Abu Dhabi and the UAE as a global hub for future transportation technologies. This achievement represents a major step toward the commercialisation and widespread adoption of low-altitude passenger aviation services.”
For more information
https://www.mediaoffice.abudhabi/en/economy/with-the-support-of-smart-and-autonomous-systems-council-abu-dhabi-investment-office-partners-with-ehang-and-multi-level-group-on-test-flight-of-passenger-electric-vertical-take-off-and-landing-aircraft