AutoFlight, in partnership with China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) and CITIC Offshore Helicopters, has successfully executed the world’s first 2-ton electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) cargo transport mission to an offshore oil platform, marking a pivotal advancement in aerial logistics for the energy sector.
The operation employed AutoFlight’s CarryAll V2000CG aircraft—now the first heavy-lift eVTOL to achieve comprehensive certification, including a Type Certificate, Production Certificate, and Airworthiness Certificate. Departing from a launch facility in Shenzhen, the CarryAll carried critical supplies—fresh provisions, emergency pharmaceuticals, and other essentials—on a 150-kilometer over-water flight to CNOOC’s Huizhou 19-3 platform in the South China Sea. The round-trip mission, spanning more than 300 kilometers, was completed in 58 minutes, dramatically reducing transit times compared to the traditional 10-hour maritime journey.
Until now, offshore supply chains have relied primarily on ships, which face delays from sea conditions, or helicopters, which incur high operating costs for routine logistics. AutoFlight’s demonstration directly addresses these challenges by delivering rapid, reliable, and cost-effective cargo transport. “This flight represents the convergence of innovative aviation technology, proven operational expertise, and real-world offshore requirements,” said Ren Yongyi, Deputy Manager of CNOOC’s Crisis Management & Operations Support Department in Shenzhen. He emphasized the success of a holistic “development + operation + application” model for integrating low-altitude aviation into offshore workflows.
The CarryAll’s Lift & Cruise design boasts a typical range of 200 kilometers, a maximum speed of 200 kilometers per hour, and a 400-kilogram payload capacity. It demonstrated precision vertical take-off and landing, stable hovering, and extended over-water navigation under challenging South China Sea conditions—fog, salt mist, high humidity, and strong winds. “These results validate both the technical feasibility and operational reliability of large-scale eVTOL platforms for offshore energy applications,” stated Kellen Xie, Senior Vice President of AutoFlight. The mission’s success underscores the readiness of electric aviation for complex commercial operations.
CITIC Offshore Helicopters, Asia’s largest rotary-wing operator, provided essential airspace coordination and safety oversight, drawing on over 40 years of aviation expertise. The mission also leveraged China’s first digital air traffic control tower to establish a framework for integrating eVTOLs into existing air traffic systems, ensuring seamless and secure operations.
This groundbreaking flight lays the groundwork for broader eVTOL deployment in offshore energy. Potential future uses include crew rotations, medical evacuations, rapid delivery of high-value components, facility inspections, and accelerated emergency responses. As the low-altitude economy expands and eVTOL technology matures, electric aviation solutions are poised to transform offshore platform logistics, enhancing efficiency, safety, and sustainability across the energy industry.
