CAAM and EHang collaborate to assess eVTOL aircraft safety and regulatory requirements, paving the way for potential air taxi operations in Malaysia
PUTRAJAYA: The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) and EHang have embarked on sandbox cooperation to assess the safety, technical and regulatory considerations surrounding the company’s proposed Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) activities in Malaysia.
In a statement, CAAM said the cooperation would provide a platform to examine the technical and operational aspects of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
“The areas of assessment include airworthiness, operational safety, personnel competency and maintenance arrangements,” it said.
CAAM said EHang would support the authority’s assessment of its proposed activities in Malaysia, adding that any proposed demonstration or trial would be considered separately and could proceed only after obtaining the necessary approvals from CAAM and other relevant authorities.
The authority also said that the cooperation would be undertaken in its capacity as Malaysia’s civil aviation regulator, responsible for ensuring the safety, security and efficiency of the country’s civil aviation sector, as well as providing air navigation services and safeguarding aviation consumer rights.
“Any future operations would be subject to Malaysian laws and regulatory requirements, with progress guided by safety assessments and operational readiness,” it said.
EHang, a global Advanced Air Mobility technology platform company listed on Nasdaq, specialises in researching, developing and manufacturing pilotless electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft.
Its applications include aerial tourism, intra-city commuting, inter-city travel, logistics transportation and emergency firefighting.
The company’s flagship EH216-S model has obtained type, production and standard airworthiness certificates for pilotless passenger-carrying eVTOL aircraft from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), according to the company.
EHang’s long-range VT35 model is designed to extend the technology’s potential to inter-city travel.
CAAM and EHang said responsible AAM development requires a phased approach supported by technical evidence and comprehensive safety assessments.
The cooperation aims to enhance understanding of emerging aviation technologies while ensuring safety and the public interest remain central to their potential introduction and preparations for future commercial AAM operations in Malaysia.