Sri Lanka’s first passenger-carrying drone has arrived in the country, and its maiden flight is scheduled for Colombo Port City by the end of October, the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) has announced.
The aircraft can carry two passengers and has a flight time of about 30 minutes, the CAASL said.
Sri Lanka became the first country to adopt the Global Fast Track Programme launched by the Chinese technology company EHang, which is designed to speed up the introduction of pilotless electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in international markets.
Colombo Port City has been named as the first operating zone for the project. The project aims to introduce passenger transport services using the aircraft, subject to the necessary regulatory and safety approvals.
Routes under consideration include scenic flights over Sigiriya and Pidurangala, and passenger transfers between Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake and hotels in Colombo. The CAASL said the initiative is also expected to explore other uses, including tourism and maritime logistics.
Background
An eVTOL aircraft is an electrically powered craft that takes off and lands vertically, like a helicopter, but is typically quieter and has fewer moving parts. Pilotless versions fly on pre-set routes under remote supervision rather than with a pilot on board.
The CAASL is the state regulator responsible for aviation safety in Sri Lanka, and any commercial passenger operation would need its approval. Colombo Port City is the reclaimed land adjoining the Galle Face area that is being developed as a financial and commercial district.
Sigiriya, in the Central Province, is among the most visited heritage sites in the country, and Pidurangala is a rock nearby that is popular with visitors for its views of Sigiriya.
What it means
The maiden flight is a trial and does not start a public service. Passenger flights for tourists or travellers would depend on the regulatory and safety approvals the CAASL has mentioned, and no fares, start date or operator have been announced.
If the project goes ahead, the routes under consideration suggest that visitors and residents in the Colombo area and the cultural triangle could eventually have an additional, faster way of travelling short distances. Details of how it would be priced and regulated have not yet been published.
