China Pioneers Low-Altitude Economy with New eVTOL Standards and Infrastructure Development

As the Chinese domestic low-altitude economy rapidly develops, the safe and efficient operation of electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL) requires robust support from standardized low-altitude flight infrastructure. The relevant standards for eVTOL landing and takeoff sites can better guide the standardized and large-scale construction of low-altitude flight infrastructure.

Source: EHang Research

On May 22, during the Fifth China Airport Development Conference, the China Civil Airports Association released the group standard “Technical Requirements for eVTOL Landing and Takeoff Sites.” The compilation of this standard officially began at the end of 2023, making it the first technical specification in China targeting eVTOL landing and takeoff sites. This standard is divided into 11 chapters, clearly outlining numerous technical parameters for eVTOL landing and takeoff sites, including physical characteristics, obstacle limitations, site selection, structural design, and dedicated facilities and equipment.

The low-altitude economy is a strategic emerging industry globally and a crucial direction for nurturing and developing new productive forces.

In October 2023, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, along with three other ministries, jointly issued the “Outline for the Development of Green Aviation Manufacturing (2023–2035),” which proposes achieving fixed-point operations for eVTOL by 2025.

In December 2023, the National Air Traffic Control Commission organized the formulation of the “National Airspace Basic Classification Method,” introducing new G-class airspace below a true altitude of 300 meters and W-class airspace below a true altitude of 120 meters, providing legal low-altitude airspace for eVTOLs, light and small drones, and general aviation.

In January 2024, the “Civil Unmanned Aircraft Operation Safety Management Rules” (CCAR-92), the first regulatory document for drone operations, was officially released.

In the 2024 National Two Sessions, “low-altitude economy” was included in the government work report, clearly identifying the development of the low-altitude economy as a new growth engine.

In April 2024, the world’s first fully certified eVTOL aircraft was born. Under the resonance of industrial policies, the concept of the low-altitude economy continues to heat up, and 2024 may become the inaugural year for the development of the low-altitude economy.

Source: EHang Research

In recent years, China has made remarkable achievements in infrastructure construction, ranking first globally in terms of completeness. Not only has traditional infrastructure continuously developed and upgraded, but new infrastructure such as 5G communication networks, satellite positioning networks, satellite remote sensing networks, and new energy power generation, transmission, and storage networks have also rapidly developed, becoming a solid foundation for the development of the low-altitude economy. Currently, China’s low-altitude flight service support system continues to advance in infrastructure layout planning, the construction of regulatory and standard systems, and the integrated operation of manned and unmanned aircraft.


References:

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MzA4MDA0MzcwMA==&mid=2652678547&idx=1&sn=cacefbde65d16f91390515d99f8130e6&v_p=90&WBAPIAnalysisOriUICodes=10001344_10000003_10000002&wm=3333_2001&aid=01A0eamy2ZZAMPHUWM4TztpI2U1DbYNIqoGXqTtOGxeNsvna8.&from=10E5193010

https://www.zaobao.com/realtime/china/story20240522-3706353

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