AutoFlight’s Prosperity Air Taxi achieves Key Certification Milestone in Expert Review
Shanghai (5 November, 2024): AutoFlight successfully hosted a comprehensive Type Certification expert review meeting for the Prosperity 5-seater passenger eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft on October 31 at its Kunshan manufacturing centre near Shanghai. The successful meeting marked a key milestone in the Air Taxi’s certification process.
The expert group participating in the review was composed of experts in R&D design, airworthiness certification, airworthiness review, and standard setting from 14 industry representative organizations, including multiple regional representatives of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), airworthiness certification centers, civil aviation and aviation-related colleges and universities, aviation research institutes, and industry associations.
The expert group reviewed reports from the applicant and review team covering Prosperity’s design features, the approach to determining type certification basis, the draft certification basis, and preparation instructions. Following questions and discussion, the expert group commended the work completed by both the review team and applicant. They provided important guidance and suggestions regarding the proposed review basis and clauses, while offering clear direction for subsequent compliance methods and verification procedures.
The certification process for Prosperity began in April 2024. In March 2024, AutoFlight achieved a significant milestone when its CarryAll cargo eVTOL received a Type Certificate (TC) from the CAAC, making it the world’s first ton-level eVTOL aircraft to obtain TC certification.
Prosperity features a pure electric propulsion system with a maximum take-off weight of 2,200 kg and a 5-seat cabin design. The aircraft is being reviewed under the “special category” of Type Certification according to the Civil Aviation Products and Components Qualification Review Regulations (CCAR-21-R5). Upon receiving its Type Certification, Prosperity will be eligible for a standard airworthiness certificate, enabling future air passenger operations and providing the public with safe, reliable, efficient, and rapid new air travel options.
About AutoFlight
Founded in 2017, AutoFlight was one of the earliest technology companies globally to invest in eVTOL aircraft development, dedicated to providing safe and reliable air logistics and air travel solutions. Following its strategic plan of “from small to large, from cargo to passenger,” AutoFlight’s independently developed eVTOL aircraft have completed over 10,000 transition flights and pioneered the application of eVTOL technology in island logistics, medical transportation, and commercial logistics.
AutoFlight maintains a commitment to advanced research and development, with all core modules developed internally. Noteworthy recent achievements include setting world records for single battery charge flight distances (250.3km), carrying out a ground-breaking formation flight of three full-scale autonomous eVTOL aircraft, completing the world’s first inter-city eVTOL air-taxi flight from Shenzhen to Zhuhai in February 2024, achieving the first long-distance (123km) flight of a ton-class eVTOL in the Middle East in May 2024, and in August 2024 flying a maiden flight over the Yangtze River presenting novel low-altitude travel and sightseeing applications. The cargo version received the first world’s eVTOL Type Certificate (TC) above ton level, while the Civil Aviation Administration has accepted the TC application for the manned Prosperity version and has officially commenced type certification work.