飞行汽车，首次在公众面前坠机起火

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses an incident involving two eVTOL aircraft from Xiaopeng Huitian during a rehearsal at the Changchun Airshow, marking the first public crash of eVTOL in China, raising concerns about safety and regulatory standards in the emerging eVTOL industry [3][4][11]. Group 1: Incident Details - On September 16, two eVTOL aircraft from Xiaopeng Huitian collided during a rehearsal, resulting in one aircraft crashing and catching fire, while the other landed safely [3][4]. - The incident occurred during a special flight demonstration, and both aircraft were in the testing phase, which is characterized by a higher risk of accidents [4][11]. - Xiaopeng Huitian stated that the crash was due to insufficient flying distance between the two aircraft, compounded by challenging weather conditions [7][11]. Group 2: eVTOL Industry Context - Xiaopeng Huitian is part of the eVTOL industry, with its flying car product, known as "land carrier" (X3-F), currently undergoing testing and certification processes [5][6]. - The company is responsible for the development, testing, and manufacturing of eVTOL aircraft, while its subsidiary, Guangdong Huitian General Aviation, operates these aircraft [6][9]. - The "land carrier" flying car is designed to function both as a vehicle and an aircraft, showcasing unique capabilities in the eVTOL market [6][11]. Group 3: Regulatory and Safety Challenges - The eVTOL industry faces significant regulatory challenges, as existing standards for traditional aircraft do not fully apply to eVTOL, necessitating the development of new certification processes [14][15]. - Currently, no manned eVTOL has received airworthiness certification, highlighting the lengthy and complex approval process required for commercial operations [11][12]. - The article emphasizes the importance of safety in the eVTOL sector, suggesting that operators must prioritize safety over profitability, given the comprehensive nature of aviation safety [16].