The low altitude economy represents a transformative sector characterized by high technological content, extensive industrial chains, and diverse application scenarios, making it a critical driver of new quality productive forces. In recent years, the progressive opening of low-altitude airspace and rapid technological advancements have propelled the low altitude economy into a phase of significant growth, with projections indicating its scale could expand substantially by 2030. As a strategic emerging industry, the development of the low altitude economy is heavily influenced by policy frameworks at national and regional levels. This article examines the evolution of low altitude economy policies in China, analyzing their stages, characteristics, spatial distribution, and regional variations. By employing spatial statistics and text analysis, I aim to provide insights into how policies have shaped the low altitude economy, highlighting disparities and offering recommendations for future policy refinement. The analysis draws on policy documents and standards retrieved from official sources up to February 20, 2025, focusing on elements such as low-altitude airspace, infrastructure, vehicles, and scenario applications. Through this exploration, I seek to contribute to a deeper understanding of the institutional context supporting the low altitude economy and its role in fostering sustainable development.
The low altitude economy encompasses activities conducted within airspace up to 1000 meters above ground level, extendable to 3000 meters in certain regions, and relies on various aerial vehicles like drones, eVTOLs, and helicopters. These vehicles operate within a framework of low-altitude infrastructure, including physical facilities like landing points, information networks for communication and weather, digital navigation resources, and integrated regulatory systems. The application of low-altitude flight activities across sectors such as public transport, logistics, tourism, agriculture, inspection, and emergency response forms the core of the low altitude economy, giving rise to new formats like low-altitude transportation and logistics. Policies and standards play a pivotal role in regulating and promoting this sector, ensuring safety, fostering innovation, and enabling scalable applications. In this article, I adopt a first-person perspective to dissect the policy evolution, emphasizing how the low altitude economy has transitioned from isolated initiatives to a coordinated national strategy, with regional adaptations reflecting local conditions.
The evolution of low altitude economy policies in China can be divided into three distinct stages: exploratory development (2010–2016), initial development (2017–2023), and accelerated development (2024–present). During the exploratory stage, policies were sparse and primarily issued by the State Council, focusing on low-altitude airspace management reforms, general aviation, and drones. This period laid the groundwork for the low altitude economy by addressing fundamental aspects like airspace utilization, with an average of only 0.83 national policies and limited standards issued annually. The initial development stage saw a significant increase in policy and standard issuance, driven by agencies like the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). This phase emphasized drone-related regulations, safety rules, and performance requirements, leading to a surge in registered drones and pilot licenses. Annually, approximately 6.3 national policies and 9.9 standards were introduced, highlighting a shift towards broader industry engagement. The accelerated stage, marked by the inclusion of low altitude economy in the government work report and the establishment of dedicated administrative bodies, has focused on comprehensive development, infrastructure expansion, and multi-scenario applications. This phase underscores the strategic importance of the low altitude economy, with policies encouraging innovation, regional coordination, and the integration of low-altitude activities into various economic sectors.
To quantify the policy evolution, I have summarized the key metrics in the following table, which illustrates the annual issuance of policies and standards across the stages. This data underscores the growing emphasis on the low altitude economy over time.
| Stage | Time Period | Average Annual National Policies | Average Annual Standards | Key Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exploratory Development | 2010–2016 | 0.83 | 1.29 | Airspace management, general aviation |
| Initial Development | 2017–2023 | 6.3 | 9.9 | Drone regulations, safety, infrastructure |
| Accelerated Development | 2024–present | Increased significantly | Expanded scope | Multi-scenario applications, innovation, coordination |
The characteristics of low altitude economy policies have undergone notable changes, reflecting a maturation of the sector. Initially, policies concentrated on single elements such as low-altitude airspace, infrastructure, and vehicles. For instance, early reforms focused on delineating airspace categories and establishing basic infrastructure networks. Over time, the focus expanded to encompass multi-element integrations, particularly in scenario applications like low-altitude logistics and tourism. This shift can be modeled using a simple progression formula: let $E_t$ represent the policy emphasis on element $e$ at time $t$, where $e$ can be airspace, infrastructure, vehicle, or application. The evolution shows a trend from $E_{\text{airspace}} > E_{\text{infrastructure}} > E_{\text{vehicle}}$ in early stages to $E_{\text{application}} \approx \sum E_{\text{other}}$ in later stages, indicating a balanced approach. Additionally, policy orientation moved from a primary emphasis on safety to a dual focus on safety and development. Early policies were dominated by safety regulations, such as drone performance requirements and flight management rules, whereas recent policies encourage economic growth, innovation, and market expansion. The coordination among policies has also improved, transitioning from isolated departmental efforts to integrated strategies involving multiple agencies. For example, the establishment of a dedicated low-altitude economy development office under the National Development and Reform Commission in 2024 exemplifies this trend towards centralized planning and cross-departmental collaboration.
In terms of standards, the low altitude economy has consistently centered on drones, but the scope has broadened. National standards primarily address manufacturing and aviation usage specifications, while industry standards cover wider fields like communications, public safety, and agriculture. The distribution of standards can be expressed as a function of domain diversity: let $S_d$ represent the number of standards in domain $d$, where $d$ ranges from drones to other sectors. Over time, $\frac{dS}{dt} > 0$ for multiple domains, reflecting an expansion into areas such as energy and meteorology. This evolution supports the safe and efficient development of the low altitude economy by providing a robust regulatory framework.
Spatially, the distribution of low altitude economy policies exhibits significant regional disparities, with concentrations in eastern and central China, particularly in the Yangtze River Delta, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and Chengdu-Chongqing region. In contrast, western provinces like Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Tibet have fewer policies, likely due to weaker economic foundations and challenging natural environments. At the provincial level, Zhejiang leads in policy issuance, followed by Anhui and Heilongjiang, while at the prefectural level, cities like Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Suzhou are prominent. The spatial pattern can be analyzed using a density function: let $P(x,y)$ represent the policy density at coordinates $(x,y)$ (e.g., latitude and longitude), with higher values in coastal and central regions. A simplified model might use $P(x,y) = k \cdot \text{GDP}(x,y) \cdot \text{Innovation}(x,y)$, where $k$ is a constant, indicating that policy density correlates with economic and innovation indicators. The following table summarizes the policy and standard counts by region, highlighting the east-west divide and the emphasis on developed areas.
| Region | Number of Provincial Policies | Number of Prefectural Policies | Number of Local Standards | Notable Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yangtze River Delta | High | High | High | Economic vitality, innovation hubs |
| Greater Bay Area | High | High | Moderate | Industrial chains, enterprise clusters |
| Western China | Low | Low | Variable | Limited infrastructure, natural barriers |
| Central China | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Growing engagement, resource potential |
Regional differences in policy content are evident through word frequency analysis of provincial policy texts. Common terms like “drone” and “enterprise” appear frequently across regions, underscoring their universal importance in the low altitude economy. However, variations in emphasis allow for categorization into three types: comprehensive development, innovation-driven, and scenario application. For instance, Guangdong’s policies highlight management, infrastructure, and industrial chains, reflecting its robust low altitude economy ecosystem with leading enterprises. In contrast, Beijing focuses on technology, safety, and innovation, leveraging its research institutions. Fujian emphasizes tourism, consumption, and experiences, aligning with its natural and cultural assets. The word frequency can be quantified as $W_{i,j}$, where $i$ denotes a province and $j$ a keyword, with rankings showing distinct profiles. This analysis reveals that regional policies are tailored to local conditions, such as economic structure, innovation capacity, and natural resources, though some homogeneity exists where policies lack specificity.
The development of the low altitude economy is further influenced by infrastructural advancements and application scenarios. For example, the construction of landing points, route networks, and service platforms has accelerated in regions like Shenzhen and Anhui, enabling diverse applications such as urban air mobility and logistics. The growth in infrastructure can be modeled using a logistic function: $I(t) = \frac{L}{1 + e^{-k(t-t_0)}}$, where $I(t)$ is the infrastructure capacity at time $t$, $L$ is the maximum capacity, $k$ is the growth rate, and $t_0$ is the inflection point. This reflects the rapid expansion in recent years, supporting the scalability of the low altitude economy. Additionally, the integration of low-altitude activities with traditional sectors like agriculture and tourism creates synergistic effects, enhancing economic outcomes. The low altitude economy thus acts as a multiplier, driving innovation and efficiency across industries.
In conclusion, the evolution of low altitude economy policies in China demonstrates a clear trajectory from foundational reforms to integrated, multi-faceted strategies. The spatial and textual analyses reveal significant regional disparities, with eastern and central regions leading in policy issuance and innovation, while western areas lag due to structural constraints. Policy recommendations include enhancing top-level design through national specialized plans, encouraging region-specific adaptations based on local advantages, and expanding standard frameworks beyond drones to cover emerging vehicles and scenarios. Future research should focus on quantitative assessments of low altitude economy impacts, particularly in application domains like logistics and emergency response, and explore the integration of low-altitude transportation with conventional systems. By addressing these aspects, the low altitude economy can achieve sustainable growth, contributing to national economic resilience and technological advancement. As the low altitude economy continues to evolve, ongoing policy refinement and regional coordination will be essential to harness its full potential.
The low altitude economy represents a dynamic field where policy interventions play a critical role in shaping development pathways. Through this analysis, I have highlighted how policies have adapted over time, reflecting broader economic and technological trends. The iterative nature of policy evolution, coupled with regional diversification, underscores the complexity of governing the low altitude economy. Moving forward, a balanced approach that prioritizes safety, innovation, and inclusivity will be key to maximizing the benefits of the low altitude economy for all stakeholders. As I reflect on these insights, it is clear that the low altitude economy is not just an economic phenomenon but a transformative force that requires continuous policy engagement and scholarly attention.