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.
