BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 6. Kazakhstan has
conducted the country’s first passenger flight of an unmanned
electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, with the
EH216-S completing a demonstration flight in Astana.


According to the statement of the Ministry of Transport of
Kazakhstan, the serial-produced autonomous aircraft carried a
passenger during the demonstration flight over a specially
authorized area of the capital as part of the international "Games
of the Future 2026" tournament.


The flight marked the first time in Kazakhstan’s history that a
passenger was transported aboard an unmanned aerial vehicle. The
EH216-S is designed to carry two passengers, has a maximum speed of
up to 130 kilometers per hour and can cover distances of up to 35
kilometers. The demonstration allowed participants to observe the
practical application of unmanned aviation technologies in real
operating conditions.


At the initial stage, Kazakhstan is considering the launch of
demonstration and tourism routes lasting from five to 30 minutes
over the country’s natural, cultural and historical attractions. In
the future, unmanned passenger aircraft systems could become part
of Kazakhstan’s modern transport infrastructure, complementing
existing mobility solutions.


"The project also envisages the development of a wide range of
applications for unmanned aerial systems, including emergency
medical services, medicine delivery, firefighting operations and
logistics, where speed and operational efficiency are critical,"
the statement of the ministry says.







Another focus area is the development of domestic production. As
part of international cooperation, Kazakhstan plans to localize the
production of passenger unmanned aerial systems, creating new
competencies in high-tech manufacturing, additional jobs and
opportunities for industrial cooperation.


The Ministry of Transport, together with relevant government
bodies, is working on establishing a regulatory and infrastructure
framework for the introduction of urban air mobility.


Kazakhstan has already adopted legislative amendments regulating
the operation of eVTOL aircraft, vertiports and unmanned air
traffic management systems, creating conditions for the safe
integration of new technologies into the country’s transport
system.