AutoFlight, AAAG Demo Passenger eVTOL in Astana
The flight follows legislative amendments.
AutoFlight and its Kazakh partner Alatau Advance Air Group Ltd (AAAG) completed a public flight demonstration of the passenger-carrying Prosperity I eVTOL aircraft in Astana on July 24.
The demonstration was staged as a supporting event for the Games of the Future 2026 — an international sports and tech competition with participants from over 50 countries.
According to company statements, the demo was intended to integrate future air mobility, connecting the low-altitude economy to the future of sports and expanding the global reach of advanced air mobility (AAM).
AutoFlight said more than 300 guests attended the event, including Chinese Ambassador Han Chunlin, presidential aide Kuanyeshbek Yessekeyev, South Korean Ambassador Jung Ki-hong, and Civil Aviation Committee Director General Michael Daniel.
The committee issued a special permit for the operation, and Daniel was present at the site to express his approval.
The demonstration is part of Kazakhstan’s systematic efforts to establish urban air mobility, AAAG Chief Executive Sergey Khegay said.
He noted that the country is concurrently advancing regulatory updates, infrastructure construction, and international technical collaboration to build an industrial ecosystem for future air travel.
Khegay added that the trial flights help the industry prepare at the technical, operational, and regulatory levels before commercial applications.
AAAG aims to make low-altitude transport an integral part of Kazakhstan's overall mobility network.
AutoFlight Senior Vice President Xie Jia described the Astana demonstration as a significant step in the company’s international push and its low-altitude Belt and Road cooperation.
He said the firm’s global ambitions extend beyond aircraft exports to operational systems and certification, adding that the test flight offered a real-world measure of its cross-disciplinary capabilities.
Plans call to scale AAM worldwide through innovation, regulatory alignment across markets, and operational system development.
Legislative Amendments
The flight followed legislative amendments signed in June and effective from July, which formally incorporated eVTOL aircraft and vertiports into the national regulatory framework covering digitalization, road transport, and advanced transport technologies.
The law amends the country’s existing legislation on airspace use and aviation activities, creating a dedicated legal environment for what is now officially termed “Advanced Air Mobility,” with subcategories covering both urban and regional air transport.
The amendments introduce seven core provisions.
They establish a legal basis for operating eVTOL aircraft and other AAM-approved vehicles, while simultaneously granting vertiports official status as critical infrastructure and setting out operational rules for such facilities.
New certification mechanisms are created for aircraft developers, manufacturers, urban air mobility operators, and civilian drones.
The law also mandates the creation of a digital traffic management system for unmanned aircraft, covering identification, route planning, and airspace coordination, alongside cybersecurity and digital infrastructure requirements to support those services.
Finally, the amendments refine state procedures for registration, certification, and flight organization of civil uncrewed systems.
With the new framework in place, Kazakhstan joins a select group of jurisdictions that have codified specific regulations for eVTOL operations, alongside the United States, the European Union, South Korea, and China.
The legislation is expected to provide regulatory certainty for investors and technology partners, allowing international collaboration and paving the way for commercial services.
The public flight demonstration by AutoFlight and AAAG in Astana on July 24, was the first eVTOL flight conducted under the new rules.
Industry observers anticipate that regular commercial AAM operations in Kazakhstan could begin as early as late 2028 or early 2029, once supporting infrastructure and operational procedures are fully in place.
Around the World
United States: The FAA has established a regulatory path for eVTOL aircraft, classifying them as “powered-lift” aircraft. This includes issuing a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) for pilot certification and an Advisory Circular (AC 21.17-4) providing airworthiness guidance.
European Union: EASA has developed a comprehensive framework, including a “Special Condition for VTOL” and multiple publications of Means of Compliance for eVTOL certification. Regulations also cover operational rules.
South Korea: The country enacted the “Urban Air Mobility Act” in October 2023, which established a legal foundation for the UAM industry, including eVTOL aircraft.
China: The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has issued dedicated airworthiness standards. On February 12, 2026, it published the “Powered-Lift Aircraft Airworthiness Standards” (AC-21-AA-2026-45), the country’s first systematic airworthiness regulation specifically for piloted eVTOL aircraft.
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