Qingdao in Shandong province releases an implementation plan for promoting the high-quality development of the city’s low-altitude economy. [Photo/Dazhong News]

Qingdao in Shandong province recently released an implementation plan for promoting the high-quality development of the city's low-altitude economy. The plan outlines the promotion zones for the low-altitude economy, unmanned aerial vehicle test zones, and low-altitude economic ecological zones in Qingdao.

According to the plan, by 2026, the total scale of the low-altitude economy industry in the city is expected to exceed 20 billion yuan ($2.81 billion) and an internationally-influential demonstration zone for the low-altitude economy centered on the Shandong Peninsula will be established.

Qingdao has a solid foundation for the development of the low-altitude economy. The city has been approved as a national-level demonstration zone for air economy, a comprehensive demonstration zone for general aviation industry, and a civil unmanned aerial vehicle test base. It has already put into use six H135 light helicopters, two Ka-32 heavy helicopters, 56 fully automatic drone nests, and successfully established an aviation public service system that integrates unmanned and manned aircraft for public security, emergency response, firefighting, emergency services, port operations, inspections, surveys, and more.

Additionally, the city has completed and put into operation four general airports - Pindu Cihang (Class A1), Jimo in Qingdao (Class A1), Laixi Dianbu (Class A2), and Qingdao West Coast New Area (Class B). Plans are underway to construct four helicopter aprons (standby points), 56 fixed take-off and landing points, and 117 temporary landing sites, achieving initial connectivity of low-altitude infrastructure.

In terms of industrial ecology, Qingdao has gathered production capabilities for two mainstream general aviation aircraft models, the Wanfeng Diamond DA50 aircraft and Airbus H135 helicopter. To date, the city has produced and delivered six DA50 aircraft and 27 H135 helicopters.

The city has also nurtured a group of drone development companies such as CAS Aerostar Technology Co Ltd. Additionally, it has introduced a number of large drone and eVTOL companies, such as Shandong Vland Biotech Co Ltd, all of which will promote the development in areas such as model research and development, test flights, and manufacturing in Qingdao.