From blueprint to lifesaver: China’s 2-tonne eVTOL certification opens a new chapter in electric aviation
July 29, 2025
In a quiet moment above the vast, churning waters of the Yangtze River, an aircraft hovered silently, a sleek machine with no pilot on board and no runway behind it. Below, more than 2,000 swimmers were midway through the 50th Wuhan Crossing Festival.
On standby in the air, AutoFlight’s CarryAll unmanned eVTOL was part of an emergency response unit that, for the first time, included a two-tonne electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft.
This wasn’t a demonstration or a test flight. It was the first real-world deployment of a heavy-lift eVTOL in a live public safety scenario. It signalled a quiet but significant shift in how aviation is beginning to serve people in their everyday lives.
China is first to certify a 2-tonne eVTOL
Last week, Chinese aviation firm AutoFlight announced that its CarryAll aircraft had become the world’s first electric VTOL over one tonne to achieve complete airworthiness certification from a civil aviation authority.
With the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) granting all three core certifications, including Type Certificate (TC), Production Certificate (PC), and Airworthiness Certificate (AC), the company has crossed a threshold that many in the industry have been watching closely.
In aviation circles, this matters because it proves that large, electrically powered aircraft can meet rigorous regulatory requirements. This is something that, until now, remained uncharted territory for this scale of technology. But for the public, its true significance may only now be coming into view.
A new era of practical, runway-free flight with AutoFlight’s CarryAll
The CarryAll is not built for headlines or records. It’s a practical workhorse, which is unmanned, electric, and capable of lifting 400 kilograms (880 lbs) of cargo. It cruises at 200 kilometres per hour (124 mph) and flies up to 250 kilometres (155 miles) on a single charge.
Crucially, it doesn’t need a runway. It rises vertically like a helicopter but travels with the efficiency of a fixed-wing aircraft. That combination opens up entirely new possibilities for moving supplies, reaching remote areas, and responding to emergencies.
One of the first to put the aircraft to use is Heli Chuangxing Intelligent, a low-altitude services provider that received the first certified CarryAll this month. The company sees it not just as a new aircraft, but as a platform for a new kind of economy, where emergency supplies, medical aid, and logistics can be delivered over short distances without relying on traditional infrastructure.
AutoFlight’s journey to certification wasn’t short. Since 2022, the CarryAll has flown more than 40,000 kilometres (25,000 miles) across diverse environments, over deserts, mountains, oceans, and cityscapes in China, the UAE, and Japan.
Testing included everything from design compliance to scenario validation. All these were done under the watchful eye of the CAAC, whose certification process involved over 100 on-site inspections and 13 formal reviews.
From China to the Middle East: CarryAll’s growing global impact
AutoFlight’s ambitions, however, go far beyond China’s borders. On July 16, the company hosted a high-level delegation from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The delegation included top aviation and investment officials.
They witnessed a technical demonstration and had strategic discussions at its newly established eVTOL testing facility. Among the visitors were Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director of the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), and Badr Salim Al Olama from the Abu Dhabi Investment Office.
The UAE delegation witnessed a live flight of the CarryAll, observing first-hand its operational readiness and technical capabilities. The meeting also included in-depth exchanges on certification frameworks and deployment strategies, reflecting shared interest in advancing electric aviation technologies across the Gulf region.
This was not the first milestone in the growing partnership. In May 2024, with support from the GCAA, AutoFlight completed a 123-kilometre flight of its two-tonne CarryAll in UAE airspace. It was the first flight of a heavy-lift eVTOL of this class in the Middle East.
The company has also established formal collaborations with Falcon Aviation Services and Etisalat Group. This move has positioned itself as an active player in shaping the future of air mobility in the region.
The future of Autoflight’s 2-tonne eVTOL
The real power of the CarryAll lies not in its technology alone, but in how it fits into real-life situations.
At the Wuhan festival, the aircraft flew as part of a layered emergency response system. It carried life rafts, monitored swimmer movement, and offered a platform for rapid intervention. This proves that aircraft of this size and capability can do more than carry cargo; they can help save lives.
According to AutoFlight, the aircraft can be rapidly deployed from almost any location, drop fire extinguishing canisters or emergency kits, and deliver supplies to areas unreachable by road.
The aircraft’s unmanned design and flexible footprint make it especially well-suited to disaster relief and urgent logistics. These are use cases that go beyond the sci-fi visions of flying taxis and instead meet real, present-day needs.
AutoFlight is already working on a manned version of the aircraft called Prosperity, a five-seater that is undergoing certification. It’s a bold next step, but the company’s trajectory suggests it’s not far off.
The CarryAll has already attracted orders from logistics operators and emergency service providers. Now that mass production is approved, more deliveries are expected to follow.
For now, the sight of a two-tonne, pilotless aircraft keeping watch over open water may be unfamiliar. But if companies like AutoFlight have their way, it may soon be a regular part of how we respond to emergencies, move goods, and connect people, quietly and efficiently, just above our heads.
