Indonesia conducts first passenger-carrying test flight of EHang 216-S flying taxi

Indonesia has conducted the first passenger-carrying test flight of the EHang 216-S flying taxi, marking a milestone in the country's push towards future urban air mobility.

The pilotless EHang 216-S completed a demonstration flight with passengers onboard in Tangerang Regency, Banten province, on Wednesday. The flight followed approval from the Ministry of Transportation, which granted a special permit for the autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) to carry people for the first time in Indonesia.

Rudy Salim, executive chairman of Prestige Aviation, the company behind the vehicle's introduction, said further tests would follow. "Our agenda is to continue testing flights, so that this can become a future mode of tourism and transportation," he stated.

Unlike previous test runs involving dummies or empty cabins, this flight marked the first time the electric-powered aircraft flew with real passengers, showcasing its potential as an alternative mode of urban transit. The Directorate of Airworthiness and Aircraft Operations under the Ministry of Transportation had earlier cleared the aircraft for the milestone flight.

The EHang 216-S, which resembles an oversized drone, operates without a human pilot. Instead, it relies on artificial intelligence for autonomous flight. The aircraft stands 1.77 metres tall, spans 5.61 metres wide, and can reach speeds of up to 130 km/h. It is designed to carry up to 220 kilograms and can travel 35 kilometres in about 21 minutes.

The vehicle is being considered for use in Indonesia’s planned capital city, Nusantara, and may also serve the tourism sector by offering scenic aerial transport.

Prestige Aviation and Indonesian authorities see the project as part of a broader effort to bring advanced transportation technologies into public service, positioning the country as an early adopter of flying taxi systems in Southeast Asia.

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