Volant (沃兰特), a Shanghai-based eVTOL startup, yesterday stated that the domestic civil aviation authorities had accepted the firm’s application for airworthiness review of its VE25-100 manned aircraft on September 28.
Volant became the first passenger-carrying eVTOL project to be screened by the CAAC East China Regional Administration, one of seven such regulators nationwide.
Reviews are also underway on eVTOL “flying cars” developed by similar firms, such as EHang (亿航) and Aerofugia (沃飞长空).
EHang’s autonomous advanced aerial vehicle is now subject to screening by CAAC Central and Southern Regional Administration, while Aerofugia’s manned eVTOL air taxi is undergoing scrutiny at the CAAC Southwest Regional Administration.
Apart from eVTOL aircraft meant for the transportation of passengers, a cargo-carrying eVTOL vehicle from Shanghai-headquartered AutoFlight (峰飞航空科技) is also being vetted for airworthiness by the CAAC East China Regional Administration.
Volant revealed through its official WeChat account that it has to date acquired 600 intentional orders for its VE25-100 model, with clients coming from such backgrounds as aerial sightseeing, short-haul transportation, cargo logistics, air taxi and emergency rescue.
VE25-100 has a wingspan of 16m and a maximum take-off mass of 2.5 tons. With a designed range of 200-400 km, it cruises at a maximum 235 kph. Coming in a six-seat layout, the aircraft can be used for passenger transportation, good delivery and medical purposes.
