Chinese eVTOL pioneer accelerates global expansion

AutoFlight, the Chinese eVTOL pioneer, continues its global expansion and is establishing its first location in Europe. A team led by former Airbus manager Mark R. Henning is now ramping up at Augsburg Airport in Germany. The team’s first task is to achieve European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification for AutoFlight’s air taxi ‘Prosperity I’, an electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft with a range of approximately 250 kilometres. It can comfortably seat up to three passengers in addition to the pilot. The certification programme for this air taxi will begin this year, with completion expected by 2025.

A dedicated and growing team will work at the R&D and certification centre in Augsburg. AutoFlight plans to establish additional locations for test and demonstration flights across Europe. ‘Prosperity I’ is the company’s first manned aircraft while, previously, the company’s focus was on unmanned cargo drones.

“I am delighted to share that Mark Henning is joining AutoFlight in Europe to build our ‘Prosperity I’ air taxi according to EASA safety standards,” said Mr. Tian Yu, the company’s founder, Chairman and CEO. Safety is and always will be AutoFlight’s top commitment. The eVTOL pioneer is dedicated to making its air taxi ‘Prosperity I’ as safe as a commercial airliner and will work closely with European authorities.

In January 2022, Mark Henning took on the position as Managing Director at AutoFlight Europe, Augsburg/Germany. The aeronautical engineer and graduate of Munich’s Technical University has worked in the aviation industry for 26 years. Henning started his career at DASA and held leadership positions at EADS and Eurocopter. Previously, he was Manager for Governmental Business at the helicopter division of Airbus and Head of product EC135. He has also held positions in programme management, strategy, production and development and has worked for the Airbus Group in Indonesia, South Korea, Israel, South Africa and the United States.