Guangzhou-based aerial vehicle company EHang Holdings Limited just received an operational permit from regulators in Norway. The permit is for the Chinese tech firm's two-seater passenger-grade urban autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) called the EHang 216.

According to the company, the permit was granted to the company's AAV by the Civil Aviation Authority of Norway (CAA) on Friday last week. It is officially the first operational permit for long-term testing granted for an AAV model in Europe. The acquisition of the permit is a major milestone for the company's and essentially solidifies its foundation as the world's leading provider of urban air mobility solutions in the European Union market.

According to the head of the section for unmanned aviation of CAA Norway, Bente Heggedal, the country is looking forward to EHang's efforts in developing autonomous passenger aircraft. The agency believes that AAVs will be the passenger transport of the future and it hopes that EHang can demonstrate a secure and safe system to one day become a better alternative for current passenger transport systems.

The CAA also mentioned that it would be present during the EHang's planned test flights for its EHang 216 AAV at the Elvenes airport. If EHang manages to prove its platform's safety and dependability, the AAV could be used to replace existing aerial vehicles used for transportation tasks.

 This will include the possible replacement of helicopters used by Norwegian offshore drilling companies that transport spare parts, suppliers, personnel, and oil samples. By opting to use EHang AAVs, the company could see massive cost and manpower savings.

EHang chairman and CEO, Hu Huazhi, recognizes this opportunity and mentioned in a statement that its technology is expected to empower the nation's oil and gas industry by giving it the ability to promote green technology and to increase its operational efficiency.

EHang, which is publicly listed on the NASDAQ Global Market, previously received first special flight authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States. The permit allowed the company to conduct trial flights of its EHang 216 in the country.

Since the company had introduced its first AAV capable of carrying passengers at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show, EHang has been able to bag major deals around in the world. In 2017, the company announced a partnership with Dubai's Road & Transportation Agency to developer an autonomous flying-taxi service for the city. In 2018, the company signed an agreement with the city of Lyon, France to establish a research center aimed at further developing its AAV technology.