Advanced Air Mobility Modern Flying News

China Certifies 4-Seat Commercial Electric Aircraft

All-electric RX4E receives type certification from the country’s civil aviation regulator and is claimed to be first of its kind to be cleared for commercial flight.

Monday, January 06, 2025 at 03:55 PM ET

Verified

According to operator Volar Air Mobility, the RX4E is the world’s first electric aircraft to be certified for commercial operations. [Courtesy: Liaoning General Aviation Academy]

Key Takeaways:

China has certified the RX4E, a four-passenger, battery-electric aircraft developed by Rhyxeon General Aircraft Company, making it the world's first electric model approved for commercial passenger and cargo flights under CAAC's Part 23 regulations.
The RX4E is a Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) design with a range of about 186 miles, 1.5 hours of flight endurance, and features 10-minute swappable batteries, enabling its use for diverse applications from private aviation and tourism to medical evacuations.
Operating partner Volar Air Mobility plans to initially deploy the RX4E in Southeast Asia, then expand to Africa and the Middle East, focusing on regions with traditionally poor aviation access, and holds commercialization rights for the RX series in 15 countries.

See a mistake? Contact us.

China has certified the world’s first electric aircraft for commercial flight, according to the operator of the model.

The RX4E—a four-passenger, battery-electric design developed by Rhyxeon General Aircraft Company, a subsidiary of Liaoning General Aviation Academy in China—received type certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), per a social media post by operating partner Volar Air Mobility.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.