ASTANA — Kazakhstan has taken its first practical step toward urban air mobility after a passenger completed the country’s first flight aboard an autonomous electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, signaling that the country’s air taxi ambitions are beginning to move beyond government plans into real-world testing. Beyond operations, Kazakhstan also plans to localize production of passenger eVTOL aircraft through an international partnership. The Ministry of Transport, with other government agencies, is developing the legal and infrastructure framework needed to introduce urban air mobility. Unlike helicopters, eVTOL aircraft rely on electric propulsion, making them quieter and potentially less expensive to operate over short distances. Industry experts view the technology as part of a broader shift toward Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) — a new transportation system intended to complement rather than replace conventional road and air transport.