China’s EHang to trial heavy air cargo drones

GUANGZHOU - China's EHang, a drone operator that has pioneered the use of self-driving "air taxis" for sightseeing trips in China, is seeking to move into air cargo transportation.

Caixin reports that The Guangzhou-based company has obtained approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) to use its autonomous aerial vehicles in a commercial pilot programme for heavy-lift air logistics.

The trial will be conducted in the city of Taizhou in Zhejiang Province, it says, using EHang 216 passenger-grade autonomous aerial vehicles.

Those drones will be authorised to transport up to 150 kilograms of goods per flight "between ground and hilltop and between shore and islands", Caixin reported EHang as saying in a statement.

www.webershandwick.cn (ATI).