Sri Lanka launches pilot of Chinese flying taxi service

Sri Lanka has authorised a Chinese manufacturer to begin testing a pilotless two-seater air taxi, authorities announced on Wednesday at a flight demonstration in Colombo. The Civil Aviation Authority said a licence had been granted to EHang to test its two-seater, pilotless electric aircraft with vertical take-off and landing capability.

Promoters hope to launch an air-taxi service between the airport and the Colombo city centre, a journey that takes about half an hour by car. Sri Lankan officials said the EHang EH216-S is powered by 16 electric motors and 16 propellers. It carries 12 battery packs, has a maximum take-off weight of 620 kilograms and can operate for about 25 minutes, covering a distance of up to 30 kilometres.