The first flight of an uncrewed eVTOL, an EHang 216-S, has taken place in Qatar.
“Minister of Transport H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Thani has sponsored and witnessed the successful trial of the first-ever urban flight with unmanned eVTOL in Qatar in a step that reflects the country’s pioneering vision of adopting smart and sustainable mobility solutions,” according to a post on the Qatar Ministry of Transport website.
“The air taxi demonstration flight comes within a series of tests, supervised by the Ministry of Transport, on the technical aspects and future applicability of such technologies. The trial air taxi flight was conducted between the Old Doha Port and the Katara Cultural Village. It was successfully conducted without any direct human interference using a full self-control system enabled by AI and advanced air navigation technologies. This shows the system is capable of using the airspace optimally in a safe operational environment.
“The MOT will continue assessing the test results and lay down the regulatory and technical frameworks needed for approving and operating that type of mobility in line with best international standards and in a way that enhances Qatar’s position as a leading global hub in adopting smart and sustainable technologies. The pilotless air taxi project will be carried out in several consecutive phases, considering all relevant technical, operational, and regulatory requirements, including infrastructure readiness, approving of operational systems, and meeting all safety, security and quality standards to ensure the new mobility system can be safely and effectively integrated into the nation’s mobility network.”
The minister said the flight was a translation of the MOT Strategy 2025-2030 that aims at creating a smart, resilient transportation system where sustainability, innovation, and” integration between various transportation modes are front and centre, thereby boosting the efficiency of the country’s transportation system and advancing the goals of the NDS3 and QNV 2030.”
For more information
https://www.mot.gov.qa/en/news/minister-witnesses-trial-first-flight-unmanned-evtol-qatar#:~:text=Minister%20of%20Transport%20H.E.,smart%20and%20sustainable%20mobility%20solutions.
(Image: Ministry of Transport, Qatar)