The first passenger eVTOL flight has taken place in Kazakhstan.
The EH216-S performed a demonstration flight over a specially permitted territory of the capital Astana earlier today as part of the international tournament “Games of Future 2026”, according to a government press statement, translated from Russian.
“The participants of the event had the opportunity to see the practical possibilities of using unmanned vehicles in real conditions. The board is designed to carry two passengers, reaches speeds of up to 130 km/h and is capable of flying a distance of up to 35 kilometers. At the first stage, the organization of demonstration and tourist routes lasting from five to 30 minutes over the natural, cultural and historical sights of Kazakhstan is considered. In the future, unmanned passenger air systems can become part of the country’s modern transport infrastructure, complementing existing types of mobility.
The project provides for the development of a wide range of practical solutions. Unmanned aerial systems can be used to provide emergency medical care, deliver medicines, perform firefighting tasks, logistics and other areas where speed and efficiency are critical.
It is planned to localize the production of passenger unmanned aerial systems in Kazakhstan, which will allow the formation of new competencies in high-tech engineering, create additional jobs and expand industrial cooperation, according to the government.
“The Ministry of Transport, together with interested state bodies, is carrying out systematic work to create a legal and infrastructural framework for the introduction of urban air mobility. Legislative changes have already been adopted to regulate the operation of eVTOL aircraft, the operation of vertiports and unmanned air traffic control systems. This creates the necessary conditions for the safe integration of new technologies into the transport system of Kazakhstan.”
For more information
https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/transport/press/news/details/1269737?lang=ru
(Image: Government of Kazakhstan)