YIVTOL in Aviation Week ！

Credit: Aviation Week

Original Link: YIVTOL Marks Industry First With China Ultralight EVTOL Flight Permit | Aviation Week Network

China’s regulatory framework for ultralights has long been established under Chapter O of CCAR-91, mirroring FAA Part 103, which allows aircraft under 116 kg (255 lbs) to operate recreationally without airworthiness certification or pilot licenses. Now, Shenzhen Yingwu Intelligent Technologies Co., Ltd., branded as YIVTOL, has clinched a national first, securing China’s first special flight permit for its single-seat S-ZERO eVTOL ultralight.

Chief Strategy Officer Chen Yuan told Aviation Week that last month's regulatory approval formally validates the company’s technology and safety standards. “On a deeper level, it has paved the way for the certification process and broken the ice for the commercialization of this entire category of aircraft, setting an industry precedent,” he said.

That “ice-breaking” moment carried over to the international stage, Chen noted, with the S-ZERO featured at Drone Tech Dubai 2025 in early October. Featuring a foldable, four-arm, eight-propeller multicopter configuration, the aircraft has a top speed of 70 km/h (43 mph), a flight time of 30 minutes, a range of 35 km (22 miles), and a payload capacity of 100 kg (220 lbs).

Also showcased was the fourth-generation S-ONE. It shares the S-ZERO's foldable design and specifications but uses a four-ducted-fan propulsion system. Built with extensive carbon fiber to stay under 116 kg, it incorporates an autonomous intelligence system that handles route planning, obstacle avoidance, and takeoff/landing, while also learning user preferences.

“In major global aviation markets, including China and the United States, ultralight aircraft operate under relatively clear regulatory entry frameworks. However, detailed implementation rules—specifically concerning safety protocols, operational standards, and personnel qualifications—remain underdeveloped,” he explained. “To help address this gap, YIVTOL partnered with China’s Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA China) in July to introduce new safety standards for intelligent light aircraft. This initiative represents a significant step toward industry self-regulation and provides a technical basis for future refined management.”

Chen projects that establishing the infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and safety systems for full-scale crewed low-altitude transport could take five to eight years, while tourism and sport markets can be developed much sooner, creating near-term opportunities for YIVTOL’s S-series.
The models have already drawn client interest, with preliminary sales agreements inked at Drone Tech. Authorities in Abu Dhabi and Dubai have also  provided early support for YIVTOL’s UAE operations.

“Within the commercialization path of the low-altitude economy, the eVTOL is undoubtedly the core vehicle. However, at this stage, it is the ultralight aircraft that truly meets the conditions for rapid deployment. It demonstrates high adaptability and feasibility in scenarios such as personal recreation, flight clubs, educational training, and static displays.”

As part of its broader strategy, the company has established a “twin-engine” structure, with Yingwu Intelligent/YIVTOL serving as the core research and development (R&D) entity and Yingwu General Aviation handling operations. This effort is backed by a dual-academician team from the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the Russian Academy of Sciences, a gyrocopter airworthiness certification group, and former FAW Group executives, who bring automotive-style manufacturing and supply chain experience.

Chen added that YIVTOL has established a joint laboratory with Beihang University and Shenzhen University, where its ducted-fan eVTOL technology has been designated as a key project under both the Shenzhen Municipal Key Research Program and Shenzhen University’s key initiatives, strengthening industry-academia collaboration. 

The company has also partnered with five of China’s six low-altitude pilot cities—Shenzhen, Chengdu, Wuhan, Luoyang, and Chongqing—to conduct demonstration projects. Trial operations began in August, and an ultralight eVTOL production facility is planned at Chengdu Expo Park in the city’s Eastern New Area, targeting an annual output of 1,000 units

“Smart aircraft represent not merely a clear industry trend, but an inevitable evolution in the next generation of transportation systems. However, to truly realize this future, we must deepen R&D and validation across all critical systems—including flight control, avionics, obstacle avoidance, and robust backup mechanisms. This entire endeavor hinges on the accumulation of massive volumes of test data and a process of continuous, closed-loop iteration. Therefore, it is not just a ‘new category’ of product; it is an inevitable new phase in the evolution of transportation.”

Chen said the S-series will begin airworthiness certification next year for personal and commercial versions, with a two-person model slated for mid-term development.

By year end, YIVTOL, alongside AOPA China and partners, will help finalize four key specifications -- the Intelligent Ultra-light Aircraft Production Quality Management Specification; the Ultra-light Aircraft Registration and Filing Management Measures; the Ultra-light Aircraft Pilot Management Specification; and the Light and Small Civil Aircraft Pilot Traffic Safety Technical Specification.

“We see new progress almost every day, achieve tangible gains every week, and reach significant milestones each month. We often joke that we just wish there were a few more hours in the day – so that our dream could become reality just a little sooner.”