China Advances Low-Altitude Economy with Cargo Drones and Air Taxis

Recently, engineers conducted a test flight of China's largest cargo drone, reports Reuters. This event coincided with the first flight of a helicopter taxi on a new 100-km route to Shanghai, marking significant progress in the nation's low-altitude economy.

The cargo drone, developed by Sichuan Tengden Sci-tech Innovation Co, can carry up to 2 metric tons. It successfully took off from southwestern Sichuan province on Sunday, completing a flight that lasted around 20 minutes. The drone features a wingspan of 16.1 meters (52.8 feet) and a height of 4.6 meters (15 feet), making it slightly larger than a Cessna 172, one of the most popular light aircraft globally.

In China, which leads the world in drone manufacturing, companies are testing larger payload capacities. The increasing efforts in both manned and unmanned air taxi services indicate a shift, as the government loosens airspace restrictions. Industry predictions suggest a potential 2-trillion-yuan (about $279 billion) market by 2030, reflecting a four-fold increase from 2023.

This recent trial follows the June maiden flight of the AVIC HH-100 drone, affiliated with the state-owned Aviation Industry Corp of China, the country’s leading aerospace entity. The HH-100 drone boasts a payload capacity of 700 kilograms (1,543 pounds) and a flight range of 520 kilometers. In the upcoming year, AVIC intends to test its largest cargo drone, the TP2000, capable of transporting 2 tons over much greater distances than the HH-100.

Drones have already begun making commercial deliveries in China. For instance, in May, Phoenix Wings, part of delivery powerhouse SF Express, started transporting fresh fruit from Hainan to Guangdong using its Fengzhou-90 drones. According to industry insiders, cargo drones offer advantages like reduced delivery times and lower costs. Additionally, these drones facilitate deliveries to areas without traditional aviation infrastructure, including rooftops in densely populated cities.

There is potential for drones to provide passenger transport services too. In April, EHang Holdings, an unmanned aerial vehicle maker located in Guangzhou, received a production certificate for its passenger drone. This certification represents China’s first approval for an autonomous passenger drone.

Moreover, the government has begun recognizing the low-altitude economy as a vital growth driver. Officials view vertical mobility as a significant advancement for passenger and cargo transport.

On Saturday, the first manned commercial passenger helicopter departed from Kunshun in Jiangsu province, heading to Shanghai Pudong Airport. Shanghai NewSky Heli Co plans to offer one-way fares of up to 1,800 yuan while reducing transit times from several hours to merely 20 minutes. It's projected that up to 30,000 passengers will utilize this new route, which is set to launch on August 18.

Shanghai also aims to broaden its low-altitude transportation network to include other cities in the Yangtze River delta.

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