With the continuous release of favorable policies and the gradual consolidation of the industrial foundation, China's low-altitude economy is accelerating towards the stage of large-scale development. In particular, the implementation of the Interim Regulations on the Flight Management of Unmanned Aircraft has injected solid legal support into the industry. At present, the low-altitude economy is in a critical transition period from pilot exploration to standardized expansion. The technology of low-altitude aircraft represented by UAVs has made rapid progress, and technological innovation has increasingly become the core driving force to stimulate market vitality. However, it must also be noted that there are still shortcomings in independent technology research and development, operation service guarantee system and supporting regulations and standards, and there is a dilemma of "wanting to release but difficult to manage, and wanting to manage but difficult to release".
First, Judgment of development trend
In recent years, the low-altitude economy has shown strong momentum and has become an emerging engine to promote high-quality development. In 2023, the total scale of the country's low-altitude economic industry has reached 505.95 billion yuan, and it is expected to reach 670.25 billion yuan in 2024, and is expected to exceed 1.5 trillion yuan by 2025, and may exceed 3.5 trillion yuan in 2035. In terms of the number of enterprises, as of September 2024, the total number of related enterprises has exceeded 50,000. With the continuous breakthrough of technology and the continuous optimization of the policy environment, the low-altitude economy is ushering in an unprecedented golden period of development.
Second, the policy drive has been continuously strengthened
At the national level: In December 2023, the Central Economic Work Conference included the low-altitude economy as a strategic emerging industry for the first time, marking that its importance has been highly recognized at the national level. On December 27, 2024, the National Development and Reform Commission established the Department of Low-altitude Economic Development, marking the further improvement of China's low-altitude economic governance system.
Abundant local practices: All localities have introduced supporting policies according to local conditions. Hunan, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and other places have successively released industrial support plans. For example, in May 2024, Guangzhou issued the "Implementation Plan for Low-altitude Economic Development" and the "20 Low-altitude Economic Development Measures", and promoted local legislation; Shenzhen took the lead in promulgating the "Regulations on the Promotion of Low-altitude Economic Industries in the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone" to escort the development of the industry at the legal level.
Third, the basis of laws and regulations has been gradually established
National regulations promulgated: The Interim Regulations on the Administration of Unmanned Aircraft Flight, which will be implemented on January 1, 2024, provide a clear legal framework for low-altitude flight activities and are an important milestone in promoting the standardized development of the industry.
Local legislative follow-up: Guangzhou has launched the review process for the "Regulations on the Development of the Low-altitude Economy", focusing on solving key bottlenecks such as airspace opening, infrastructure construction and flight safety supervision.
Figure: Prospects for the future development of the low-altitude economy
Fourth, technological breakthroughs continue to advance
Green and low-carbon aircraft: New energy power systems are gradually being applied to general aviation aircraft, providing technical support for achieving the goals of carbon peak and carbon neutrality.
Intelligent upgrade: Artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT) enable aircraft to become intelligent, improve autonomous flight capabilities such as automatic obstacle avoidance, path planning, and mission execution, and help form a highly intelligent low-altitude travel network in the future.
Communication infrastructure optimization: As a key support platform, low-altitude intelligent networking will usher in accelerated deployment and build an efficient and connected air-ground integrated communication system.
Fifth, accelerate the implementation of multi-scenario applications
Smart logistics: The full-process automated distribution system of drones is gradually maturing, which can effectively alleviate urban congestion and improve logistics timeliness.
Urban Air Mobility: eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft) is expected to be the first to be commercialized in urban commuting, ushering in the era of "air taxi".
Expansion of public services: In scenarios such as aerial inspection, emergency rescue, and environmental monitoring, low-altitude aircraft will show greater flexibility and efficiency.
Integrated development of culture and tourism: "Seeing scenery from the air" is increasingly becoming a new trend, and new forms of low-altitude tourism are rapidly emerging, boosting the upgrading of the cultural and tourism industry.
Sixth, the management system needs to be upgraded synchronously
Airspace management innovation: There are still barriers to the allocation of airspace resources, and it is urgent to improve the availability and refined management capabilities of low-altitude airspace through mechanism innovation and technology empowerment.
Strengthened safety supervision: With the increase in aircraft density, the construction of an efficient and traceable supervision system has become a prerequisite for ensuring operational safety.
Standard system construction: The establishment and improvement of a unified industry standard system is of great significance for standardizing product research and development, flight operation and service processes, and ensuring the healthy development of the industry.
Seven, accelerate the formation of industrial ecology
Coordinated development of the ecological chain: The low-altitude economy covers aircraft manufacturing, infrastructure, air traffic control systems and diversified application scenarios, and will form a complete industrial chain from design and development to operation and maintenance services in the future, promoting the deep integration of all aspects of the industry.
Green and sustainable orientation: The promotion of urban low-altitude travel needs to be organically integrated with urban planning, strengthen the collaborative consideration of resources and environment, and build a sustainable low-altitude ecosystem.
Expanding the vision of globalization: In terms of mutual recognition of standards, market opening, and research and development of cutting-edge technologies, China will strengthen cooperation with the international community and actively participate in the construction of the global low-altitude economic governance system.
Conclusion
Overall, China’s low-altitude economy is transitioning from initial development to rapid expansion. Driven by policy support, regulatory guarantees, technology-driven and industrial collaboration, the low-altitude economy is expected to become an important growth pole for the deep integration of the digital economy and the real economy in the future. In the face of new opportunities and challenges, it is still necessary to make continuous efforts in mechanism construction, system improvement and cross-border coordination to achieve high-quality and sustainable development of the low-altitude economy.
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Analysis of Low Altitude Economy and Its Development Status and Trend (1)
Analysis of Low Altitude Economy and Its Development Status and Trend (2)
Analysis of Low Altitude Economy and Its Development Status and Trend (3)
Analysis of Low Altitude Economy and Its Development Status and Trend (4)
