LODD Autonomous has initiated the formal certification programme for its Hili hybrid cargo VTOL with the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority, transitioning from development and flight testing into regulatory approval. The 250kg payload, 700km range aircraft now enters airworthiness compliance demonstrations, ground and flight testing, operational evaluations, and safety assessments. Hili, completed its first test flight in November 2025 at Al Ain, and is expected to become the first advanced autonomous civilian aircraft fully designed, engineered, and certified domestically in the UAE. Upon certification, it will support middle-mile logistics, healthcare supply chains, offshore operations, and humanitarian response. No specific timeframe for certification completion or entry into service has been provided.