Sri Lanka Launches Pilot of Chinese Flying Taxi Service
Officials said testing could last five months before possible commercial service as promoters seek an airport-to-Colombo route.
- On Wednesday, the Civil Aviation Authority authorized Chinese manufacturer EHang to test its pilotless two-seater electric air taxi in Colombo, marking Sri Lanka's entry into passenger-drone aviation.
- Aviation Minister Anura Karunathilaka and deputy Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku served as the first passengers during a flight demonstration of the EHang EH216-S aircraft.
- The EH216-S features 16 motors, 16 propellers, and 12 battery packs, with a maximum take-off weight of 620kg and a 25-minute flight range covering up to 30km.
- Kodithuwakku stated that Sri Lanka is joining a race among more than a dozen countries to introduce passenger-drone services globally.
- Testing could continue for about five months before commercial services are permitted, with promoters aiming to launch air-taxi service between the airport and Colombo city centre.
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coastaltvnews.comSri Lanka launches pilot of Chinese flying taxi service
Sri Lanka has authorized a Chinese manufacturer to begin testing a pilotless two-seater air taxi, authorities announced Wednesday at a flight demonstration in Colombo.
Sri Lanka Conducts First Passenger Drone Trial
Sri Lanka has successfully conducted its first official trial of an electric-powered passenger drone, the Chinese-made EHang E216, at Colombo Port City. Aviation Minister Anura Karunatilaka participated in the flight, marking a significant step towards future commercial drone services in the country.
Manufactured by EHanh, the 16-engine electric motor vehicle welcomed its first two passengers, the Air Minister Anura Karunathikala and his Deputy Minister Janitha Ruwan Kodithumwakku. The aircraft, with a maximum take-off weight of 620 kg, has a range of 30 km. For more than ten years, many manufacturers have developed prototypes of "flying taxis" that struggle to break into the public transport market and have hardly reached the stage of "toys…
A two-seater driverless taxi-drone manufactured by a Chinese company successfully completed Wednesday its first demonstration flight over the Sri Lankan capital Colombo.
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