U-ELCOME Breakthrough: EHang Demonstrates First Coordinated Urban eVTOL Flight in European Airspace

In a landmark European urban air mobility achievement, EHang successfully conducted the first unmanned eVTOL flight in an urban environment. The Chinese company's EH216-S aircraft completed this groundbreaking demonstration in Benidorm, Spain, on February 28, 2025, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of advanced air mobility across the continent.

The historic flight was executed as part of the EU-funded U-Space European Common Deployment ("U-ELCOME") project, a flagship digital airspace initiative under the SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking. This ambitious project, coordinated by Eurocontrol, brings together 51 partners from France, Italy, and Spain to advance the implementation of urban air mobility solutions.

What made this demonstration particularly significant was its comprehensive approach to airspace management. The EH216-S didn't fly alone – it operated alongside twelve additional drones simultaneously, all managed through Spain's Air Navigation Service Provider, Enaire, using its U-Space traffic management system. This coordinated multi-drone operation showcased how unmanned aircraft can safely navigate urban environments within a regulated framework.

Patricia Hervias, Project Manager at EUROCONTROL, emphasized the importance of this achievement: "Benidorm air taxi and drones' simultaneous demonstration highlighted the capability of U-space services, enhancing emergency response and operational efficiency in complex urban environments."

Technical Specifications and Performance

The EHang EH216-S stands out in the eVTOL market primarily through its fully autonomous flight capabilities, distinguishing it from competitors requiring pilots or semi-autonomous systems. This complete autonomy positions it uniquely as an unmanned air taxi solution, enabling diverse applications, including air taxi services, emergency response, and logistics.

The EH216-S features:

• Passenger capacity: 2 people
• Maximum speed: 130 km/h (81 mph)
• Cruising speed: 100 km/h (62 mph)
• Range: 35 kilometers (22 miles)
• Maximum altitude: 3,000 meters (9,843 ft)
• Recharge time: 120 minutes
• Maximum takeoff weight: 620 kg (1366 pounds)

The aircraft utilizes 16 independent rotors and motors, enhancing stability and redundancy for urban environments. Its lightweight, compact design is specifically tailored for short-range city commutes.

Comparative Limitations

When compared to other eVTOLs like Joby Aviation's S4, the EH216-S has some limitations:

1. Range: Its 35-kilometer range is relatively limited compared to competitors designed for longer distances.
2. Payload Utilization: While the EH216-S's unmanned nature allows it to utilize its limited payload more efficiently than manned alternatives like Joby's S4, it may have a lower overall carrying capacity.
3. Speed: Some competing models may offer higher maximum speeds for inter-city travel.

The EH216-S represents a significant advancement in urban air mobility, focusing on safety features and urban integration. Its recent progress with solid-state battery technology suggests that EHang continues to innovate to improve the aircraft's performance capabilities and maintain its competitive position in the rapidly evolving eVTOL market.

Regulatory Significance

The flight represents a major milestone in regulatory compliance, as it was the first pilotless eVTOL aircraft demonstration in a European city conducted under European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) regulations. This successful operation validates the feasibility of integrating unmanned aircraft systems into urban environments while adhering to Europe's high safety standards.

The EU has been proactive in establishing regulatory frameworks for urban air mobility. EASA's regulatory package, which became applicable in early 2023, enables the safe integration of unmanned aircraft systems operations in urban environments. This comprehensive approach covers airworthiness certification, flight crew licensing, and airspace integration.

Gonzalo Alonso, Head of International Business Development at ENAIRE and leader of the Spanish U-ELCOME cluster, noted: "For the first time, the simultaneous operation of drones with an air taxi has been possible in a safe manner with multiple U-space Service Providers."

The European eVTOL Landscape

Europe has positioned itself as a global leader in shaping the eVTOL market. The continent is driving innovation, regulation, and sustainability advancements for this emerging transportation sector. European manufacturers and developers are setting industry standards while working to overcome challenges like regulatory barriers, production scalability, and infrastructure readiness.

Several European companies are making significant strides in this space. Lilium, a German eVTOL developer, actively works on air taxi solutions while engaging with regulatory authorities to shape the market. The company's Manager of Government Relations and Public Affairs Europe, Marvin Koenig, has been vocal about Europe's role in the global eVTOL landscape.

EASA expects urban air mobility to become a reality in Europe within the next 3-5 years. The regulatory body has proactively created the necessary framework, publishing a Special Condition to authorize small VTOL aircraft operations in July 2019. This forward-thinking approach has positioned Europe at the forefront of urban air mobility development.

The U-ELCOME Project's Contributions

The U-ELCOME (U-Space European Common Deployment) project significantly advances Urban Air Mobility (UAM) in Europe through several key initiatives and frameworks.

U-ELCOME is a three-year SESAR Digital Sky Demonstrator project coordinated by EUROCONTROL that brings together 51 partners from Spain, France, and Italy. With a substantial budget of 14 million euros financed through Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) funds, the project is scheduled to run until October 2025. This extensive collaboration ensures diverse expertise and resources are directed toward developing UAM solutions across multiple European markets.

The project aims to support the market uptake of U1 and U2 U-space services through comprehensive testing and demonstrations. U-ELCOME builds upon previous European initiatives while ensuring compliance with Regulation 2021/664 on the U-space regulatory framework and related amended regulations. The project leverages actual U-space systems currently operational or deployed through key industry partners, including ENAIRE, ENAV, ASLOGIC, ITG, D-Flight, and Thales.

Practical Demonstrations and Testing

A cornerstone of U-ELCOME's contribution is its practical demonstration of UAM technologies in real urban environments. The recent milestone flight in Benidorm, Spain, showcased EHang's EH216-S pilotless eVTOL operating alongside twelve additional drones performing various simulated operations, including cargo transport, delivery, surveillance, and rescue missions. This demonstration validated the feasibility of integrating unmanned aircraft systems into urban environments while maintaining compliance with European safety standards.

Regulatory and Standardization Advancement

Through close cooperation with EASA, AESA, and other national and international authorities, U-ELCOME is actively contributing to consolidating standardization and regulatory requirements. This work accelerates the deployment of relevant U1 and U2 services and U-space-based operations while ensuring interoperability between U-space and traditional air traffic management systems.

ATM Integration and Interoperability

The project demonstrates how U-space services can interface with existing Air Traffic Management (ATM) systems. This integration is crucial for safely operating drones and eVTOL aircraft in shared airspace. The successful demonstration in Benidorm highlighted how multiple pilotless aircraft can operate safely and efficiently in urban environments under proper traffic management.

By addressing safety, security, privacy, social acceptance, and environmental concerns while creating a sustainable economic environment for the European drone industry, U-ELCOME is pivotal in transforming urban air mobility into a practical reality across Europe.

Looking Ahead

The successful flight in Benidorm demonstrates that unmanned eVTOL operations are no longer just a concept but an emerging reality. This milestone advances the development of Advanced Air Mobility, aligning with the EU's vision of integrating drones and eVTOL aircraft into urban airspace within a regulated and scalable framework.

In April 2024, the European Commission adopted a comprehensive set of measures to address the unique safety challenges of new emerging air mobility concepts and services. This package targets manned VTOL aircraft (often piloted air taxis) and higher-risk unmanned drone operations, introducing EU-wide airworthiness certification requirements and procedures.

As EHang and other manufacturers continue to demonstrate the viability of their aircraft in real-world urban settings, we can expect to see accelerated development of the infrastructure and regulatory frameworks needed to support commercial urban air mobility operations across Europe. Integrating these new aerial vehicles into existing airspace systems is a significant step toward a future where air taxis and drone deliveries are commonplace in European cities.