China’s eVTOL developers race to obtain certifications

A growing number of research and production enterprises focused on electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft have emerged in China and are seeking the necessary certification to bring their products to the sky.

Volant, a Shanghai-based eVTOL developer, is seeking a type certificate (TC) for its 2.5-ton eVTOL aircraft, which is designed to carry one pilot and up to five passengers.

Currently, the company has signed preliminary cooperation agreements with numerous clients, with total orders exceeding 700 aircraft. However, before these partnerships can be realized, they must secure various safety certifications from local civil aviation authorities over the next one to two years.

"Obtaining certifications is a complex process involving hundreds of testing subjects. For example, the seats must be able to withstand 16 times the force of gravity throughout the aircraft's entire lifespan," said Huang Xiaofei, Vice President of Strategy at Volant.

Jiang Jun is the co-founder of TCab Tech, another eVTOL developer. A month ago, they also held a meeting to apply for a type certificate (TC) for their first model. He noted that China has a relatively well-developed environment for eVTOL aircraft manufacturing.

"Currently, the only component we import is the motor, which comes from the French manufacturer Safran. All other parts are made in China, so the entire supply chain is essentially complete," said Jiang.

Driven by the manufacturing demand for eVTOL aircraft, the industry is actively expanding and investing across various segments of the entire supply chain.

"For example, we have partnered with several leading universities and research institutes in Shanghai to innovate components and composite materials. We are also focusing on domestic chips and materials to replace imported components. I believe this represents a major opportunity for the entire industry," said Zhu Min, head of Shanghai STVC Group.

In 2024, the Shanghai municipal government issued an action plan aimed at supporting the development of over 10 leading eVTOL aircraft research and manufacturing enterprises, with the goal of attracting more than 100 key supporting companies by 2027.

"We are focused on building a comprehensive industrial system for the research and development, design, final assembly, trial testing, and commercial application of new low-altitude aircraft. We are leveraging municipal industrial special funds to accelerate the innovative research and manufacturing efforts of enterprises in Shanghai," said Guo Lei, director of the Major Equipment Industry Division of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization.

China’s eVTOL developers race to obtain certifications

Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, has drawn renewed international attention amid persistent rhetoric from the United States about acquiring the Arctic island and a growing diplomatic presence by Western nations in its capital Nuuk.

The U.S. consulate in Nuuk, the only permanent American diplomatic mission in Greenland, is located in a modest red wooden building. Originally opened in the mid-20th century, the consulate was closed in 1953 and reopened on June 10, 2020, operating under the U.S. Embassy in Denmark.

In January, the United States announced plans to relocate the consulate to a newly constructed high-rise building in the city center.

The new facility, expected to occupy roughly 3,000 square meters in the building's basement and to be fitted with bulletproof glass, will mark a sharp contrast with the current site.

Consulate staff said they do not yet know when the move will take place, noting that the new building has not yet opened.

Residents living near the future site said they were aware of the planned relocation. When asked whether it would affect their daily lives, many declined to comment. A small number of locals who agreed to be interviewed stressed that Greenland is not for sale.

"They have been here for many years already, the U.S. bases. Maybe we can cooperate with them in some way but we don't need to be sold to the U.S.," said a local resident.

Diplomatic activities in Nuuk have increased in recent weeks. France and Canada both opened consulates in the city on Friday. Canada said the new mission would help deepen cooperation with Greenland in areas including Arctic security, climate change and trade.

Iceland established its consulate in Nuuk in 2013, and Canada and Iceland are set to share the same office building.

France, which has announced plans to open a consulate, has yet to secure permanent premises.

Analysts say the expansion of diplomatic missions by multiple Western countries reflects Greenland's growing importance in the Arctic's strategic landscape, underscoring how the region is becoming a focal point of international attention and geopolitical competition.

U.S. eyes larger Greenland consulate as Western nations step up Arctic presence