COMAC's 10-tonne electric CE-25A completes first piloted intelligent flight in Binzhou
The 19-seat electric aircraft flew with two pilots and a test engineer aboard after 19 unmanned flights; a type certificate application has been accepted.
On 14 November, ithome.com, citing CCTV News, reported that the CE-25A, a 10-tonne electric airliner developed by COMAC, made its first piloted intelligent flight in Binzhou, Shandong. Two pilots and one flight-test engineer were aboard; the aircraft behaved normally and all parameters met expectations ithome.com
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It follows the unmanned intelligent maiden flight on 2 February 2026. The previous 19 verification flights were all autonomous and unmanned. In this flight the aircraft performed its task with the autonomous system while the pilots could monitor and intervene.
The CE-25A is COMAC's first electric airliner, meant for intercity flights: 19 passengers, 10 tonnes maximum takeoff weight, 300 km/h cruise at 2,400 m, 400 km range. Each wing carries five electric ducted fans, ten in total. Public information cites a 500 Wh/kg condensed-matter battery.
Ground taxi tests were completed in late October. The Civil Aviation Administration of China has accepted the type certificate application; compliance testing and review are still ahead ithome.com
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