Two Chinese companies have received the first-ever operation certificate (OC) for autonomous passenger drones issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), the Global Times learned on Sunday. It marks the first time that the regulator has issued these certificates for passenger-carrying civil unmanned aircraft, signaling the start of commercial operation in China's low-altitude aviation sector and representing a milestone in the development of the low-altitude economy and urban air mobility, industry insiders said.

The OCs, issued by the CAAC, confirm that the autonomous passenger drone meets the country's safety operation standards. The companies that have these certificates can carry out commercial operations in approved air space and provide paid passenger services, according to a report by China Central Television (CCTV).

The CCTV report compared developing the low-altitude economy to "building cars," noting that while the three certificates - Type Certificate, Production Certificate and Airworthiness Certificate - confirm "whether a car can be built," the OC determines whether "a car can operate on the road."

The two OC certificates were granted to Chinese dronemakers EHang Holdings in South China's Guangdong Province and Hefei Hey Airlines in East China's Anhui Province.

People will be able to book [low-altitude] flights just like booking a ride-hailing service, EHang said in a statement shared with the Global Times on Sunday. The company will gradually expand and increase its commercial operation sites, establishing low-altitude transportation hubs across different areas of Guangzhou to provide regular low-altitude tours, urban sightseeing and commercial passenger services, according to the company. 

The granting of the OCs means that people in Anhui's capital Hefei can purchase tickets to experience low-altitude sightseeing tours and urban air commuting services, according to a report by local newspaper Hefei Daily. A representative of Hefei Hey Airlines was quoted as saying in the report that the company will officially launch commercial passenger services at locations such as local parks in Hefei. 

"Obtaining an operating certificate means that these two companies not only meet the technical requirements for commercial operations but also comply with stringent regulatory standards, marking a significant step toward standardized operations of autonomous passenger drone in China," Wang Yanan, chief editor of Aerospace Knowledge magazine, told the Global Times on Sunday. Analysts noted that more Chinese companies are likely to apply for OCs in the near future. 

EHang Holdings' EH216-S is the world's first and China's only passenger-carrying unmanned electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to have obtained all three certificates, EHang said in the statement. Having completed more than 60,000 safe flights, the eVTOL is set to facilitate urban air mobility, logistics and sightseeing, the company statement noted.

Luo Jun, executive director of the China Low Altitude Economic Alliance, told the Global Times on Sunday that the issuance of the certificates marks a signal in the new and orderly development stage of China's low-altitude economy, under the joint efforts of civil aviation authorities, enterprises and society. 

"It is expected that trial applications will be conducted in designated areas to accumulate experience. Gradually, large-scale commercialization will begin with improvements in relevant standards and rules, as well as the establishment of flight service facilities," Luo noted. He estimated that it may take two to three years for big Chinese cities to fully embrace the low-altitude economy. 

Earlier this month, Chinese authorities issued a special action plan to boost consumption. The guideline said that the government would speed up the supervision system for the low-altitude economy, and encourage the orderly development of low-altitude consumption, such as low-altitude tourism, air sports and consumer drones.

According to Wang, the autonomous passenger drones OC is also the world's first, which could not only facilitate relevant Chinese companies' technological upgrades - a process that is closely tied to mass application - but would also help them gain a first-mover advantage in snapping up global market share. Luo also noted that China will be able to export its low-altitude economy model to the Belt and Road partner countries.