© 2024 New Atlas
Aircraft

EHang to introduce air tourism in northwest China

By Paul Ridden
May 12, 2020
EHang to introduce air tourism in northwest China
The first project to launch under a new collaboration between EHang and LN Holdings will be an air tourism service for guests at the LN Garden Hotel in Nansha, Guangzhou
The first project to launch under a new collaboration between EHang and LN Holdings will be an air tourism service for guests at the LN Garden Hotel in Nansha, Guangzhou
View 3 Images
The first project to launch under a new collaboration between EHang and LN Holdings will be an air tourism service for guests at the LN Garden Hotel in Nansha, Guangzhou
1/3
The first project to launch under a new collaboration between EHang and LN Holdings will be an air tourism service for guests at the LN Garden Hotel in Nansha, Guangzhou
Tourists will get to see landmarks from the air in EHang's 216 two passenger air taxi
2/3
Tourists will get to see landmarks from the air in EHang's 216 two passenger air taxi
Media representatives attending an eHang signing ceremony on May 9, 2020, were offered air tours around the LN Garden Hotel
3/3
Media representatives attending an eHang signing ceremony on May 9, 2020, were offered air tours around the LN Garden Hotel
View gallery - 3 images

Air mobility company EHang has joined forces with tourism company LN Holdings to bring air tourism to the latter's hotels. One of the first projects to emerge from the new collaboration will make the LN Garden Hotel in Nansha the first hotel to offer air tourism services to its guests.

At a ceremony on May 9, executives from EHang and the LN Group inked a deal that would see the LN Garden Hotel build an urban air mobility platform to offer guests aerial sightseeing and an air taxi service, as well as entertain with aerial light shows, educate through exhibitions and operate drone logistics. Indeed media in attendance at the signing ceremony were given brief air tours around the hotel in EHang's 216 air taxi, before settling down for an acrobatic drone light show.

Tourists will get to see landmarks from the air in EHang's 216 two passenger air taxi
Tourists will get to see landmarks from the air in EHang's 216 two passenger air taxi

The 216 autonomous aerial vehicle features a two passenger pod surrounded by eight arms with two rotors on each. The electric air taxi has a reported top speed of 130 km/h (80 mph) and a maximum flight time of 21 minutes.

"We are excited to establish a comprehensive and long-term strategic partnership with LN Holdings," said EHang's chairman and CEO, Hu Huazhi. "Helping to build Guangzhou into a global air mobility pilot city is a milestone for us, and further promotes the commercialization of the UAM ecosystem. Guests of LN Garden Hotel will experience our one-stop intelligent AAV services, including the unique aerial sightseeing, convenient and autonomous air deliveries and high-tech aerial light shows."

Source: EHang

View gallery - 3 images

Tags

AircraftdronesEhangTourismFlying taxiAutonomous flight
7 comments
Paul Ridden
Paul Ridden
While Paul is loath to reveal his age, he will admit to cutting his IT teeth on a TRS-80 (although he won't say which version). An obsessive fascination with computer technology blossomed from hobby into career before hopping over to France for 10 years, where he started work for New Atlas in 2009. Now back in his native Blighty, he serves as Managing Editor in Europe.

Most Viewed

Load More
7 comments
mediabeing
I wish the EHang folks well, but until they make some serious changes, I won't give them a chance.
The props aren't where they should be. They should either be moved or cowled.
People have been saying this about the EHang design for years and years.
You'd think they'd pull their heads out and give it some serious thought. Oh well.
guzmanchinky
Excellent. I think this could be as safe or safer than a current helicopter. With FAR fewer moving parts and computer stabilization, this is a much more stable design. And as far as the props being in the wrong place, I say the tail rotor of a helicopter and the prop of a Cessna are just as dangerous. And the electric props can be stopped INSTANTLY once landed.
Towerman
Excellent News ! ! ! Congratulations Mr. Hu Huazhi. You truly are pioneering the industry and taking a major step forward into making
multicopter air travel a reality ! ! !
Towerman
@mediabeng

No Not at all whatsoever, exposed bladed aircraft have been certified and operates all over the world for decades now, including massive 4 engine propped machines, helicopters and gyrocopters.

Ehang's 216 is perfect as is, sorry you clearly don't understand how safe the machine is, it does not need prop guards, people get in and out only when the blades stop, its not a helicopter where the blades take forever to spool up and down, it's a multicopter, with PC controlled motors, starting and stopping instantly.(wake up to the future ;) EVERYONE is looking forward to flying in this brilliant machine ! ! !

If you are so stupid to run towards an aircraft with spinning blades when it takes off, you truly are dumb and stupid. That can also be said to people running towards prop aircraft and helicopters that have been flying for decades !

Congratulations EHANG ! ! !
Towerman
@guzmanchinky

Exactly, the props are in the perfect place ! This is a brilliant Multicopter ! I can't wait to see the first tourism videos ! !
hugo60
The props are the least of the problems with this craft.
There's no pilot. You are relying on AI.
The machine has only 21 minutes flight time. If adverse weather or anything happens so that the machine can't land as planned - you aren't going to have the normal extra fuel that all aircraft have, nor are you going to have the ability to land anywhere safely as a helicopter because there's no pilot.
They could be successful one day, but personally I won't be in one until they have the safety record of modern commercial aviation.
They may get permission to fly these in China but they wouldn't in the West. The moment that one of these fails and crashes on someone below, and a video goes viral, the Chinese too will stop passenger flights.
Towerman
@hugo60 No that is not true, if you have researched the company you would know how it works. You are not relying on "AI"
Ehang has a base of operations flight centre, though autopilot could be the default, the craft will be controlled by a pilot at the control centre if necessary, absolutely all the telemetry is actively monitored in realtime, and failsafe measures are in place.

Whether the craft is on autonomous mode or flown by hand at the control centre.

If weather is bad, the pilot would know as the telemetry would tell instantly and besides the telemetry you would instantly notice the performance change in bad weather as you are actively monitoring the craft and can issue a failsafe command or hand fly the craft to a safe landing. (or the craft itself will issue a failsafe command if it is necessary)

As for the safety record. Multirotors thus far have proven to be very reliable, so that is not a concern.

They will quickly be adapted in the West. EHANG and VOLO is starting the revolution and paving the way for it's exposure globally. Exciting times ahead... When i can i buy a ticket ! ! !