China’s CAAC certifies world’s ‘first unmanned helicopter’
March 24, 2025
United Aircraft’s TD550D has officially received certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), becoming the world’s first unmanned helicopter to receive type certification. Through the establishment of a new airworthiness standard specifically for unmanned helicopters, developed in conjunction between the OEM and the regulator, “this TC is not the finish line – it’s the starting gun for an industrial breakthrough,” explained United Aircraft chairman and CEO Tian Gangyin.
Designed for a variety of missions including emergency response, aerial firefighting, reconnaissance and surveillance, and logistics, the TD550 possess a 200kg payload capacity and a 6,500m (21,325ft) operational ceiling. Its cruise speed is listed as between 120-140km/hr, while its maximum level speed is 180 km/hr. No mention has been made of the platform being used to carry people, although United Aircraft hopes the “major step forward in regulatory frameworks” could offer a replicable certification model for similar unmanned aircraft worldwide.
“These capabilities help traditional industries improve efficiency and expand the boundaries of low-altitude economy use cases,” explained United Aircraft, which now aims to “drive coordinated growth across the upstream and downstream UAV industry chain and propel China’s drone sector to new heights”.
The culmination of a certification journey which began in 2023, the TD550D’s type certification process included more than 2,600 preliminary flight tests, 29 ground compliance tests and 72 flight validation tests. “Backed by a mature design assurance system and efficient project execution, the certification campaign was carried out within a swift timeline,” explained United Aircraft, adding that as-yet-unspecified “extreme-condition tests… under complex environmental conditions” had also been carried out.
These extreme conditions could well relate to the demonstrations the coaxial-rotor TD550 has participated in, including delivering drinking water and food to residents during floods, and conducting high-rise urban firefighting across various cities.
The TD500D is the flagship model of United Aircraft’s TD550 series, developed with “a focus on high safety, user-friendliness, rapid iteration, and low cost,” explained its manufacturers. Featuring a supercharged piston engine and integrated fibre-optic inertial navigation system, it is designed to be able to operate in wind speeds of up to level 8 (reaching gales of 40 kts) and in “light to moderate” rain.
Autonomous capabilities include an “emergency return-to-home” feature, with the craft able to return to a preset launch site or safe landing area if communication is lost with the ground control station. A forced landing feature is also included, while an electronic fencing system “precisely defines flight routes, preventing entry into restricted airspace or deviation from planned routes”.
