Unmanned aerial vehicle receives type certificate

The East China Regional Administration of the Civil Aviation Administration of China on Friday issued the type certificate to V2000CG, a large cargo electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle, CCTV News reported.

The aircraft type certificate is a prerequisite for ensuring aircraft safety and allowing entry into the market for commercial operations. The V2000CG is the first certified large cargo eVTOL by CAAC.

Developed by Fengfei Aviation Technology, V2000CG has a maximum takeoff weight of 2 metric tons and a wingspan of 15 meters. Featuring pure electric power and autonomous driving, it has a payload of 400 kilograms and a carrying capacity equivalent to a small helicopter.

It is suitable for low-altitude logistics, emergency material transportation, and emergency rescue missions within a range of 200 kilometers. Compared to helicopters, it offers quieter operation, environmental friendliness, lower operating costs, and reduced maintenance expenses.

The unmanned aerial vehicle system is part of the low-altitude economy, which is considered one of the "new growth engines." It is predicted that the industry holds trillion-dollar market potential, and China is encouraging the development of new logistics models combined with the low-altitude economy, unmanned driving, and other initiatives.

According to the official WeChat account of Xpeng Heitech, a flying car startup backed by electric vehicle maker Xpeng Inc, the application for the type certificate for the flight body (code-named: X3-F) of its flying cars was officially accepted by the Civil Aviation Administration of China's Central-South Regional Administration on Thursday, signaling that the model is entering the airworthiness certification stage.