2024 Global Low-Altitude Economy
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The global low-altitude economy in 2024 is experiencing a period of rapid growth opportunities, driven by the concerted efforts of governments, businesses, and research institutions. With continuous technological innovation and expanding markets, the low-altitude economy is set to become a significant part of the global economy, bringing numerous benefits to society. This sector will promote the integrated development of manufacturing, services, and technology. Key factors driving the growth of the low-altitude economy include advancements in aircraft technology, infrastructure development, and policy support, all contributing to its innovation and application.

Global Low-Altitude Economy Development Experiences

The development of the global low-altitude economy has progressed from early exploratory applications to standardized growth and now widespread adoption. During this process, regions like the United States and Europe have provided valuable experiences and lessons for the global development of the low-altitude economy due to their early advantages in drone technology and general aviation.

A. Leading Innovations in the U.S. Low-Altitude Economy:

  1. Development Scale: The U.S. is a key player in the global low-altitude economy, especially prominent in the industrial drone market and general aviation. The U.S. is the largest market for industrial drones and the most active in investment, with a complete industrial drone supply chain. Additionally, the U.S. holds a significant share of the world’s general aviation aircraft, nearly half, reflecting its maturity and scale in this field.
  2. Civil-Military Cooperation: The U.S. excels in civil-military cooperation within the low-altitude economy. For example, the U.S. Air Force’s “Agility Prime” program promotes research on eVTOL technology for military applications, showcasing deep integration between civil and military sectors.
  3. Policy Support: The U.S. government promotes the low-altitude economy through policies and funding. NASA plays a crucial role in advancing the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) system, pushing forward related projects.
  4. Technological Analysis: The U.S. leads in key areas like drone technology and eVTOL. American companies have extensive experience in drone system development and application, and ongoing exploration and testing of new aircraft like eVTOL aim to improve urban air mobility efficiency and safety.
  5. Market Activity: The eVTOL market in the U.S. is highly active, attracting significant investment. For instance, Joby Aviation went public via a SPAC on the New York Stock Exchange, securing substantial funding. This reflects the capital market’s optimism about the commercial potential of new technologies in the low-altitude economy.
  6. Airworthiness Certification Progress: The U.S. has made notable progress in airworthiness certification. Joby Aviation’s JAS4-1 electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft received special airworthiness criteria from the FAA, paving the way for commercial operations.
  7. Regional Market Analysis: North America, particularly the U.S., is a crucial region for the eVTOL aircraft market, holding the largest market share and expected to maintain steady growth.

Overall, the U.S. demonstrates comprehensive strength in developing the low-altitude economy, from infrastructure construction and technological innovation to policy support and market investment, showcasing its leading position globally.

B. Lessons from Europe’s Low-Altitude Economy Development:

  1. Unified Aviation Policies and Regulations: The European Union promotes coordinated development in the low-altitude economy among member states through unified aviation policies and regulations.
  2. Support Policies for the Drone Industry: Several European countries have introduced policies supporting the broad application of drones in logistics, agriculture, and environmental protection, boosting the drone industry.
  3. Air Traffic Management: Europe’s air traffic management system has evolved into a more unified structure, providing effective support for the low-altitude economy.
  4. Digital Sky Project: Through the SESAR project, Europe is developing the next generation of air traffic management systems, significantly enhancing airspace capacity, safety performance, and reducing costs and environmental impact.
  5. Green Aviation Vision: Europe’s aviation sector has outlined a green aviation vision for 2050, emphasizing climate neutrality, passenger health, and energy flexibility, guiding sustainable development in the low-altitude economy.
  6. Aviation Industry Integration: Europe integrates aviation services with other multimodal transport services, improving transportation systems while minimizing aviation’s non-passenger impacts.
  7. Investment in Education and R&D: Europe prioritizes education, training, and R&D, building human capital, knowledge, and ideas to support ongoing aviation development and improvement.
  8. Digital Transformation: Europe is investing in digital transformation to leverage benefits from AI and big data in aviation, supporting intelligent management in the low-altitude economy.
  9. Focus on Safety and Security: Europe prioritizes safety, security, and resilience in the aviation sector, ensuring the industry can withstand risks and threats from both physical and cyber realms.
  10. U-Space Initiative: Europe’s U-Space initiative aims to integrate drones into urban traffic, with specific designs and plans for UTM (unmanned traffic management) and UAM (urban air mobility) systems, providing systematic support for drone applications in the low-altitude economy.

These measures have yielded significant results in Europe, offering valuable experiences for other regions globally.

C. Asia Leading Low-Altitude Economy Development:

  1. Drone Manufacturing and Technological Innovation: East Asia, particularly China, Japan, and South Korea, is experiencing strong growth in drone development, continually introducing new technologies and products.
  2. Policy Support and Legislation: Some Asian countries are regulating and supporting the low-altitude economy through legislation. For example, China implemented the “Interim Regulations on the Flight Management of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles” from January 1, 2024, requiring real-name registration for civil UAV owners.
  3. Infrastructure Development: Asian countries focus on building infrastructure related to the low-altitude economy, such as general airports and take-off and landing points, supporting flight demands and regulation.
  4. Industry Cluster Development: Some Asian countries are forming industry clusters through aerospace industrial parks, promoting comprehensive development in the low-altitude economy.
  5. Technological R&D and Innovation: Asia continuously innovates in key technologies like drone and eVTOL development, driving technological progress in the industry.
  6. International Cooperation and Exchange: Asian countries engage in global low-altitude economy development through international cooperation and exchange, participating in drone exhibitions and forums to promote technology and market exchanges.
  7. Export Control and National Security: To protect national security and interests, some Asian countries control the export of unmanned aerial vehicles to ensure technology is not used improperly.
  8. Drone Application Services: Drones are widely used in rapid logistics, emergency rescue, agricultural and forestry protection, and aerial surveying, promoting specialized development in drone services.
  9. Safety Regulation and Services: Asia emphasizes safety management for low-altitude aircraft, establishing effective regulatory systems to ensure safe flight activities.
  10. Drone Pilot Training and Certification: Some Asian countries focus on training and certifying drone pilots to enhance the professionalism of flight operations.
  11. Designated Airspace for Drone Operations: Certain Asian regions designate airspace for drone operations, simplifying flight application processes and improving airspace utilization efficiency.

These experiences demonstrate Asia’s diverse strategies for developing the low-altitude economy, aiming for healthy growth through policy guidance, infrastructure development, technological innovation, international cooperation, and safety regulation.

Common Trends in the Global Low-Altitude Economy:

  1. Technological Innovation and Application Expansion: The core of the low-altitude economy lies in aviation technology, particularly the development of drones and eVTOLs. Continuous technological innovation drives progress in the low-altitude economy, including advanced aircraft design and smarter flight control systems.
  2. Market Growth: The global low-altitude economy market continues to grow, expected to maintain high growth rates in the coming years. Asia, especially China, has made significant advances in this field, becoming a key growth area globally.
  3. Policy and Regulatory Support: Governments worldwide support the low-altitude economy through legislation and policy. For instance, China issued the “Interim Regulations on the Flight Management of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles,” the U.S. FAA released special airworthiness criteria for eVTOLs, and the EU’s EASA defined operational requirements for aircraft.
  4. Industry Chain Cooperation and Formation: eVTOL manufacturers collaborate with aerospace tier-one suppliers, accelerating the formation of the upstream industry chain. For example, Honeywell received a $10 billion order in the AAM business, boosting investment in eVTOL component R&D.
  5. Manufacturing Capability Enhancement: eVTOL manufacturers are speeding up production line construction and product delivery. Joby established a production plant in the U.S., and Lilium manufactures prototypes on its production line in Munich, Germany.
  6. Airworthiness Certification and Regulatory Cooperation: Global civil aviation authorities are improving eVTOL regulatory systems, with manufacturers collaborating to achieve airworthiness certification. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) issued a type certificate for EHang’s EH216-S, marking the first such certification globally.
  7. Active Market and Investment: eVTOL manufacturers are actively entering global markets, securing international advantages, and prompting increased industry investment from aviation giants, such as Boeing’s acquisition of Wisk.
  8. Green Aviation Development: The low-altitude economy emphasizes green, low-carbon development, aligning with national strategies for net-zero emissions in the aviation sector.
  9. Innovative Business Models: The low-altitude economy drives new business models like drone delivery and air taxi services, providing consumers with more convenient services.
  10. International Cooperation and Competition: As emerging markets increase their focus on and investment in green aviation, companies are initiating collaborations with governments and enterprises in China, Singapore, Dubai, and other regions, enhancing international cooperation and intensifying competition.

These trends highlight the rapid development and future potential of the global low-altitude economy, emphasizing that technological innovation, policy and regulatory support, industry chain cooperation, and market expansion are crucial drivers in this field.