INTERNATIONAL DESK — China's state-backed aerospace sector achieved a significant milestone on Saturday as the indigenously developed CE-25A all-electric passenger aircraft successfully completed its maiden crewed flight in the eastern province of Shandong. Carrying a crew of two pilots and a flight-test engineer, the 10-tonne battery-powered aircraft remained airborne for 16 minutes and 38 seconds, successfully navigating a distance of 60.4 kilometres before touching down.
Built through a collaborative initiative involving the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, battery manufacturing giant CATL, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the aircraft incorporates 10 electrically powered ducted fans distributed evenly across its wings. According to technical parameters, the CE-25A is engineered to accommodate 19 passengers with a targeted operational range of 400 kilometres, a cruising speed of 300 kilometres per hour, and an altitude ceiling of 2,400 metres. Prior to the recent crewed trial, the platform successfully underwent 19 autonomous flight evaluations, utilizing advanced navigation systems designed to allow pilot intervention when necessary.
The successful demonstration underscores a broader push within the global aviation industry toward zero-emission regional transportation. By utilizing battery propulsion and producing no direct carbon emissions during operation, the aircraft model aims to transform short-distance intercity transit into an environmentally sustainable sector. The design philosophy addresses growing regulatory pressures on the transport industry to curtail greenhouse gas emissions without sacrificing regional connectivity.
Following the successful completion of the initial crewed trials, the Civil Aviation Administration of China has formally accepted the manufacturer's application for type certification. While regulatory evaluation moves forward, the commercial development consortium has not yet disclosed a definitive timeline for passenger-carrying operations or the formal introduction of the battery-powered aircraft into commercial airline networks.