A 600-square-kilometer zone located southwest of Beijing has been approved as China’s largest airspace for drone testing in the north of the country, aiming to boost the development of the country’s growing low-altitude economy.
The zone, covering an area of 25 by 23 kilometers, allows flights of up to 4,000 meters, exceeding the standard limit of 3,000 meters for low-altitude airspace, Shijiazhuang Daily reported on Saturday.
This airspace in Shijiazhuang, capital of north China’s Hebei Province, is designed for test flights of all manned and unmanned aircraft, including large industrial drones, said Zhang Minghui, an engineer with Aviation Industry General Aircraft.
It can meet the demands of aviation emergency response, air transportation, weather modification, low-altitude tourism and pilot training, Zhang noted.
The unified management of the testing zone can effectively simplify the processes for companies to secure their airspace, while the adoption of 5G-Advanced technology facilitates real-time monitoring of drones’ flight status, said Zhang Xueqian, a local official in charge. for investment promotion.
Shijiazhuang is the latest Chinese city to establish itself in this emerging sector, with several Chinese companies already capitalizing on the airspace’s vast economic potential by launching a variety of drones, eVTOLs and small aircraft.
More than 20 provincial governments in China have incorporated the development of the low-lying economy into their work plans or introduced relevant policies.
In August, Beijing launched its first unmanned aerial vehicle logistics delivery route on a section of the Great Wall, allowing tourists to receive heat relief items and emergency supplies in minutes.
Chongqing, a mountainous municipality in southwest China, launched trial operations of a low-altitude interprovincial air route to the city of Zigong in neighboring Sichuan Province in March.
Source: https://www.chinahoje.net/china-amplia-fronteiras-da-aviacao-com-maior-espaco-aereo-para-testes-de-drones/
