Low-altitude economy development requires establishing standards and clearing bottlenecks

Securities Times Reporter Wu Shaolong

Recently, ten departments jointly issued the “Low Altitude Economy Standard System,” covering five major sectors: aircraft, infrastructure, air traffic control, and others. It clarifies that by 2030, a basic framework of optimized, advanced, and internationally compatible low-altitude economic standards will be established. The implementation of standards is not the end goal; only by solving practical issues such as airspace management and supporting infrastructure can the low-altitude economy truly become accessible to ordinary people and become an important growth driver of new productive forces.

The potential of the low-altitude economy is widely recognized. The Civil Aviation Administration of China predicts that by 2035, the market size of China’s low-altitude economy could exceed 3.5 trillion yuan. In recent years, low-altitude economic operations have been piloted in multiple locations. Hefei has built a low-altitude delivery network, Shenzhen has enabled AI-powered low-altitude flight services, and scenarios such as drone patrols, low-altitude logistics, and manned sightseeing are gradually being implemented. The low-altitude economy has moved from a “conceptual hype” to a “regulated development.” The release of this standard system precisely fills the gap of previous inconsistent technical and management standards, drawing a “construction blueprint” for industry development and avoiding disorderly competition and redundant construction.

Despite the enthusiasm, practical challenges remain. Many regions fall into the trap of “overemphasizing standards and neglecting implementation.” Issues such as complicated airspace approval processes, lagging infrastructure, and talent shortages restrict industry growth. Some places lack sufficient takeoff and landing sites and charging facilities, making operations difficult; core technological weaknesses persist, and market-oriented profit models are not yet mature. These “airspace blockages” and “ground-level difficulties” hinder the transformation of standards into tangible industry vitality.

To overcome implementation difficulties, coordinated efforts between government and enterprises are needed, with targeted actions. At the same time, safety must be prioritized, and people’s livelihood needs should be considered. This includes optimizing airspace management, simplifying flight approval procedures to ensure smooth low-altitude flights, and addressing infrastructure and technological gaps—especially increasing efforts in core technology research and development, and innovating financial models to attract social capital. Enterprises should abandon the mindset of “focusing on scale and neglecting effectiveness,” and instead focus on niche scenarios, deepening specialization to ensure low-altitude services genuinely meet logistics, urban management, cultural tourism, and other public needs.

From conceptual exploration to standard formulation, from pilot projects to large-scale development, the growth of the low-altitude economy is a gradual process. Standards set the rules for the industry, but actual implementation results are the true measure of industry value. Whether it’s the convenience and efficiency of cross-city freight or the fresh experience of manned sightseeing, the ultimate goal is to make these services accessible, practical, and beneficial for the people.