Hainan released the country's first provincial airspace map suitable for unmanned aircraft, the Shenzhen Municipal Party Committee held a special meeting to study and deploy low-altitude economic development, and EHang Intelligent obtained the world's first unmanned manned aircraft system type certificate... "Low-altitude economy" has become more and more important. Coming hotter. According to incomplete statistics, 16 provinces have included low-altitude economy, general aviation and other related content in their government work reports this year. Since September alone, low-altitude economic development conferences, forums, and seminars have been held in Anhui, Jiangxi, Hainan, Guangdong and other places. Recently, the National Development and Reform Commission and other departments issued a notice to once again promote and learn from Shenzhen's comprehensive reform pilot innovative measures and typical experiences. "Innovating new mechanisms for low-level economic development" is one of the 22 experiences. The just-concluded Central Economic Work Conference clearly proposed the creation of several strategic emerging industries such as biomanufacturing, commercial aerospace, and low-altitude economy.
“Low-altitude economy” refers to a comprehensive economic form that is mainly based on civil manned and unmanned aircraft, driven by multi-scenario low-altitude flight activities such as manned, cargo and other operations, and radiates to drive the integrated development of related fields. From the perspective of industrial composition, the low-altitude economy mainly includes low-altitude manufacturing, low-altitude flight, low-altitude support and comprehensive services. It has the characteristics of wide radiation, long industrial chain, strong growth and driving force, and is driving effective investment and creating consumer demand. , there is broad room for improving innovation levels. Industry experts believe that the time it takes for the low-altitude economy to develop into a trillion-level industry may be far less than that of driverless cars.
In February 2021, the concept of "low-altitude economy" was written into the national plan for the first time. The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council issued the "National Comprehensive Three-dimensional Transportation Network Planning Outline" and proposed to develop transportation platform economy, hub economy, channel economy, and low-altitude economy. The "Strategic Plan Outline for Expanding Domestic Demand (2022-2035)" proposes to accelerate the cultivation of island, cruise, low-altitude, desert and other tourism formats to release the consumption potential of general aviation. From January 1, 2024, the "Interim Regulations on the Management of Unmanned Aircraft Flights" will be officially implemented, marking that my country's drone industry will enter a new stage of standardized development with "laws to follow".
With the support of multiple policies such as airspace policy, economic policy, and industry policy, my country's low-altitude economic industry has developed rapidly, and the number of low-altitude aircraft and enterprises has continued to grow. Data shows that as of the end of August this year, there are more than 1.11 million civil unmanned aircraft registered with real names in China, an increase of 15.9% compared with the end of 2022; 182,000 drone operator licenses have been issued, and there are no registered drones nationwide. There are more than 17,000 human-machine operating companies. From January to August this year, civil drones have flown more than 16.8 million flight hours.
At present, many places are actively seizing the strategic opportunity period and golden window period of intensive innovation and rapid development of low-altitude economic industries, accelerating the formation of low-altitude economic industry agglomeration effects and innovation ecology, and seeking development in the sky. The "14th Five-Year Plan" for the high-quality development of manufacturing industry in Guangdong Province proposes to rely on Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Zhuhai to break through key technologies such as drone-specific chips, flight control systems, power systems, and sensors to make drones bigger and stronger. The human-machine industry promotes innovative applications in major industries such as logistics, agriculture, surveying and mapping, power inspections, security patrols, and emergency rescue. In the "Shanghai Action Plan to Create a Future Industrial Innovation Highland, Develop and Strengthen Future Industrial Clusters", "low-altitude economy" is a highlight, and it is proposed to break through technologies such as tilt rotors, composite wings, and intelligent flight to develop manned electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft. Explore new modes of air transportation. Anhui Wuhu released the "Wuhu City Low-altitude Economy High-Quality Development Action Plan (2023-2025)", which proposed that the number of low-altitude economy-related enterprises will exceed 300 by 2025, and the output value of low-altitude industry will reach 50 billion yuan...
"Taking food "falling from the sky", taking a sightseeing helicopter "for a ride", "flying" to work... these scenes may enter people's daily lives in the not-too-distant future. Industry experts said that to develop low-altitude economy, "the market is the foundation, airspace is the key, policy is the guarantee, technology is the support, and safety is the bottom line." To promote the low-altitude economy from being ready for development to taking off, it is necessary to accelerate the establishment and improvement of a system of laws and regulations, adhere to innovation-driven development, and continuously develop and open more application scenarios. As Fan Bangkui, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said, "A day when the sky will be busier will inevitably come."
