EHang’s ERH216-S conducts a demonstration flight at HAECO’s Xiamen, China, facility.
As it looks ahead to certification and operation of its urban air mobility (UAM) vehicles, China’s EHang has formed a partnership with commercial aircraft maintenance provider HAECO Group to develop after-sales support for its autonomous air vehicles.
The startup has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Hong Kong-based HAECO, a subsidiary of the Swire Group, to cooperate on aircraft maintenance, continued airworthiness, digital platforms and personnel training. The focus is on co-developing maintenance services in preparation for commercial operation of the EH216-S two-passenger self-flying air taxi.
The electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) EH216-S is undergoing type certification with the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). EHang plans to be an UAM platform operator in China, as well as a manufacturer, but has letters of intent for sales to customers in Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia and Thailand.
HAECO has 17 bases in China, including its Hong Kong headquarters, plus a presence in Europe and the U.S. “HAECO is well positioned to support EHang and jointly develop the systems, standards and services required in advanced air mobility,” says Jacqueline Jiang, group director for airframe services.
