CAAC Launches New Low-Altitude Safety Department

🔑 Enhanced Key Takeaways

•The low-altitude economy was first included in China's central government work report in 2024 and subsequently elevated to a strategic emerging industrial cluster in the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030).
•The CAAC's establishment of this new department follows a similar move by China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), which set up its own Low-Altitude Economy Development Division in December 2024.
•China's low-altitude economy is projected to reach a market size of RMB 1.5 trillion (approximately USD 211 billion) in 2025, with forecasts indicating a rise to RMB 3.5 trillion by 2035, supported by 3.28 million registered drones in 2025.
•A revised Civil Aviation Law, set to take effect on July 1, 2026, introduces a dedicated chapter for 'development promotion' and establishes tiered airspace management rules below 300 meters, specifically addressing eVTOLs and new operating models.
•China launched a national low-altitude flight authorization system in December 2025, designed to streamline approvals through a 'one window acceptance, one network service' approach, aiming to reduce approval times by over 50% and integrating AI and big data for route planning and risk prediction.

🛠️ Technical Deep Dive

The new Low-Altitude Safety Department is tasked with building low-altitude flight service dispatch platforms and flight service station systems.
The CAAC's "Overall Plan for the Development of Low-Altitude Flight Service Support System," issued in June 2018, outlined a three-tier system to be initially established by 2022, comprising a national information management system, seven regional information processing systems, and a network of flight service stations. This system is intended to provide services like flight planning, aviation information, meteorology, and emergency assistance.
The national low-altitude flight authorization system, launched in December 2025, utilizes AI and big data technologies for automatic optimal route planning, flight risk prediction, and real-time air traffic monitoring, aiming for a unified "one window acceptance, one network service" approach.
Mandatory national standards for UAV operational identification and real-name registration are effective May 1, 2026, establishing a "one aircraft, one code, full traceability" regime to address unauthorized "black flights."
The CAAC is accelerating the review of its CCAR-23 regulation, with a revised version (CCAR-23 "Airworthiness Regulations for Normal Aircraft (Draft of Comment)") including "Chapter H Supplementary Requirements for Electric Aircraft" to cover power units, thrust control, and energy storage for eVTOL and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) projects.
The low-altitude economy air management system market is seeing trends towards urban air mobility management platforms, automated airspace control integration, drone traffic management, and AI-based routing systems, with cloud deployment projected to hold a 53% market share in 2026.

🔮 Future ImplicationsAI analysis grounded in cited sources

China will become a global leader in low-altitude airspace management standards.

The proactive establishment of a dedicated department and comprehensive regulatory framework, including streamlined eVTOL certification and a national flight authorization system, positions China to influence international norms for unmanned aviation.

The commercialization of eVTOL passenger transport and drone logistics will accelerate significantly in China.

The new department's focus on development planning, safety management, and unified service platforms, combined with substantial government backing and regional pilot programs, will remove key bottlenecks for widespread adoption.

China's low-altitude economy will achieve its projected market size of RMB 3.5 trillion by 2035.

The strong policy support, dedicated government divisions, and rapid growth in registered drones and flight hours indicate a robust trajectory towards these ambitious economic targets.

⏳ Timeline

2010

State Council and Central Military Commission launch 'Guideline on Deepening the Reforms on Low-Altitude Airspace Management'.

2018-06

CAAC issues 'Overall Plan for the Development of Low-Altitude Flight Service Support System'.

2021-02

Low-altitude economy included in China's 'National Comprehensive Three-Dimensional Transportation Network Planning Outline'.

2024-12

National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) establishes Low-Altitude Economy Development Division.

2025-12

CAAC releases draft airworthiness standards for unmanned eVTOL aircraft and launches national low-altitude flight authorization system.

2026-05-13

CAAC officially establishes the Low-Altitude Safety Department.

CAAC Launches New Low-Altitude Safety Department

⚡ 30-Second TL;DR

Key Points

🧠 Deep Insight

🔑 Enhanced Key Takeaways

🛠️ Technical Deep Dive

🔮 Future ImplicationsAI analysis grounded in cited sources

⏳ Timeline

📎 Sources (22)

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