The US Is Losing the Air Taxi Race to China
Beijing is barreling ahead with approval for automated electric aircraft while the FAA mires American companies in red tape.
EHang of China has tested electric aircraft in multiple countries.
Photographer: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg
The Federal Aviation Administration held an event at a business aircraft conference in October to unveil 880 pages of regulations for electric-powered vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, which US companies hope to use as flying taxis someday. The highlight of the Special Federal Aviation Regulation is a section that allows eVTOL pilot training with one set of controls instead of the traditional two.
Meanwhile, China is zipping ahead on its approvals for such aircraft, and its aviation regulator has already certified a pilotless version. EHang Holdings Ltd., a Chinese aviation company, carried passengers in its automated electric aircraft in Thailand last week, paving the way for commercial flights outside of China. The EH216-S, a two-seat aircraft with very limited range, has made test flights in multiple countries, including Costa Rica and Brazil.