Shanghai plans low-altitude inter-provincial navigable cities

Shanghai will team up with the rest of the Yangtze River Delta region to build the first batch of low-altitude inter-provincial navigable cities in the country, according to an action plan released on Tuesday.

The plan, aiming to promote the high-quality development of low-altitude economy in Shanghai from 2024 to 2027, was released during an industry meeting held on Tuesday.

A low-altitude smart logistics commercial system connecting the sea, shores and cities will be initially built in the Yangtze River Delta region in the next three years. Shanghai will also work with neighboring cities to apply for the urban air traffic management pilot program, said the plan.

Meanwhile, a comprehensive national-level low-altitude economy demonstration area should be set up in the region, with the core industrial value topping 50 billion yuan ($7 billion). Efforts will be made to establish a complete industrial system covering the research and design of new aircraft, final assembly and manufacturing, airworthiness testing and commercial application, according to the plan.

Zhang Ying, director of Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, said that Shanghai will build a highland for the innovation, commercial application and operational services for low-altitude economy.

By 2027, Shanghai will support the development of at least 10 companies specializing in the R&D and manufacturing of electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, industrial-grade unmanned aerial vehicles and new energy-powered general aviation aircraft. The city will nurture about 20 industry leaders providing operational services.

In addition, more than 100 key supporting companies should be gathered in the city by 2027. At least 30 landmark products should be created in the next three years. More than 100 low-altitude flight service applications should be landed in the city. The low-altitude infrastructure should be completed. A one-stop platform for comprehensive supervision and management over unmanned aerial vehicles should be set up, according to the plan.

Integral to China's innovation strategy, low-altitude economy serves as one new driving force for the country's high-quality economic growth, said Shanghai's vice-mayor Chen Jie during the Tuesday meeting. The development of low-altitude economy will help advance new type of industrialization and nurture new quality productive forces, he said.

Low-altitude economy can seek commercial applications in logistics, emergency rescue and smart cities. Business potential can be discovered in the cultural and tourism sector, including sightseeing and aerial photography, said Chen.