The path to approval

2026 pilot programme target

Year-end marker for a year-only commercial pilot programme target published March 2026; dependent on approvals. Not an exact promised start date.

Japan accepts Midnight M001 application

MLIT confirms acceptance of the type-certification application. Technical assessment and FAA coordination follow; acceptance is not certification.

Salinas–Monterey flight demonstration

Demonstration flight event, not certification or scheduled passenger service.

Restricted type pathway announced

Agreement on a certification approach; no issued restricted type certificate established by this announcement.

Means of compliance accepted

Manufacturer reports acceptance of all means of compliance. This does not mean all compliance testing is complete.

Historical late-2024 certification target

Year-end marker for the late-2024 target published in December 2022. Subsequent 2026 updates still describe certification work; this target was not achieved on the original schedule.

Past target · achievement has not been reconfirmed.

Texas eIPP flight campaign begins

Demonstration flights. Manufacturer also reports ongoing TIA testing; type approval remains in progress.

Design organisation approval

Approval applies to Sarla as a design organisation; Shunya has not thereby received a type certificate.

Revised criteria opened for consultation

Airworthiness and noise consultations closed in August 2026.

General certification plan agreed

Plan agreement does not establish completion of its compliance demonstrations.

Expo demonstration flight

Osaka demonstration, distinct from public transport approval.

G-1 certification basis

Aircraft-specific agreement on applicable criteria, not a universal numbered stage.

Operating certificates announced

Announcement date. Guangdong EHang General Aviation and Hefei HeYi approved for related Guangzhou and Hefei sites.

Production certificate reported

Approval concerns the production system, not an unrestricted passenger network.

First standard airworthiness certificate announced

A conforming aircraft was certificated and delivered to ETON. This individual airworthiness approval is separate from type, production and operating certificates.

EH216-S type certificate

Variant-specific type approval for the passenger-carrying pilotless aircraft; operating approvals remain separate.

First pre-application contract completed

Early engagement with EASA; not certification of the aircraft or battery.

Passenger variant application reported accepted

Certification process commenced April 26, reported April 30. An accepted application is not a certificate.

V2000CG CarryAll type certificate

Cargo aircraft approval; must not be attributed to the passenger Prosperity variant.

Design organisation approval

Approval applies to Vertical Aerospace as an organisation; it is not a Valo or VX4 type certificate. Source gives March 2023, without a day.

Velis Electro certified

Two-seat conventional-takeoff electric trainer. Included in broader AAM coverage, not counted as an eVTOL approval.