Guangzhou gears up for low-altitude unmanned aircraft operations

Unmanned aerial vehicles will start commercial operation in 2025, with more low-altitude aircraft entering the airworthiness certification and pilot application stage in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, according to Chen Tengfei, a deputy to the annual local legislative meeting, on Thursday.

"Construction of airworthiness certification and flight test service infrastructure and creating demonstration application scenarios play an important role in industrial development," said Chen, who is also chief designer at EHang Holdings Limited, one of the world's leading urban air mobility technology companies.

Chen noted that expanding test infrastructure and developing more application scenarios will enable the sector to thrive, driving industrial expansion and contributing to high-quality economic development.

EHang obtained a Type Certificate and Standard Airworthiness Certificate for its EH216-S model unmanned aircraft from the Civil Aviation Administration of China in April 2024, becoming the first company ever to do so.

Guangzhou formulated a regulation on the development of the low-altitude economy in 2024, which has given enterprises related to the industry confidence in future growth, according to Chen.

"Companies in the low-altitude industry need more support in areas with clear scenarios and relatively fixed routes, such as urban management, healthcare, logistics, emergency rescue and air travel," Chen said while citing a suggestion to the annual local legislative meeting.