Chinese regulator approves AutoFlight’s Prosperity passenger eVTOL aircraft
The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) officially accepted AutoFlight’s application for the Type Certificate (TC) of its Prosperity 5-seater electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The certification process commenced on April 26, 2024.
AutoFlight’s Prosperity 5-seater eVTOL aircraft.
Ideal for air taxis
AutoFlight’s Prosperity is equipped with a pure electric propulsion system, has a maximum take-off weight of 2,200 kg, and features a 5-seat cabin design.
Its ‘lift and cruise’ wing configuration allows for vertical take-off, similar to a multi-rotor aircraft or helicopter. Once in flight mode, it transits to fixed-wing flight for horizontal cruising.
With its versatility in take-off and landing, efficiency, convenience, and environmental safety, it stands as an ideal choice for ‘air taxis’. The eVTOL aircraft will be utilised for point-to-point air travel within cities and intercity areas, with the objective being to ultimately offer pricing similar to ground-based car services.
Pushing forward China’s low-altitude economy
In February, AutoFlight presented the world’s first inter-city electric air taxi demonstration flight between the southern Chinese cities of Shenzhen and Zhuhai, which is the world’s first public flight of an eVTOL aircraft on a cross-sea and inter-city route.
The route between Shenzhen and Zhuhai is part of the future air traffic scenario planned by the regional government as it develops its ‘low-altitude economy’ strategy that will see the opening of thousands of vertiports and hundreds of eVTOL air routes across the Greater Bay Area in southern China.
