Imagine getting your favourite cold drink delivered by drone while hiking in the remote countryside or taking an air taxi to an outlying island for a fresh seafood feast. These futuristic experiences are edging closer to reality, thanks to rapid advancements in drone and EVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) technology.
However, turning these dreams into everyday convenience requires a coordinated effort by governments, manufacturers, and operators to tackle a range of challenges — from safety and signalling to complex engineering solutions. These critical issues were at the heart of discussions among drone industry insiders at the "Reaching Above and Beyond: Mapping the Future of the Low Altitude Economy" panel session held at the tech exhibition InnoEX, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.
Birthplace for a new era
Attendees at the session learned that Hong Kong's Low-Altitude Economy (LAE) is experiencing a surge in activity, fuelled by a government action plan and the launch of a sandbox initiative in March. These efforts aim to position Hong Kong as a prime testing ground for drones and EVTOL aircraft.
Beyond Hong Kong, Shenzhen — home to an estimated 1,700 drone companies — has pioneered cross-city and cross-sea EVTOL flights. This progress follows Shenzhen becoming the first city in China to establish a legal framework for the LAE, according to Dr Winnie Tang, Vice-President of the Greater Bay Area Low Altitude Economy Alliance.
No wonder some are heralding the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as the birthplace of a new era in air transport.
Transport in 3D mode
For Mr Michael Sheng from Shanghai-based drone manufacturer Vertaxi, Hong Kong is particularly suited for low-altitude airborne vehicles: “Hong Kong has many islands and bays which means that EVTOL aircraft can be more convenient for point-to-point travelling because they do not rely on traditional airport runways or complex and expensive ground infrastructure like helicopters.
“At the same time, Hong Kong is a very densely populated city with congested ground transportation, so we can quickly improve transport efficiency,” he continued. In his view, the limitations of traditional surface transport can be overcome by establishing a “network of flexible point-to-point air routes using a three-dimensional transport mode.”
Noise, safety and security
Despite the promising outlook, panellists agreed that numerous obstacles remain – foremost among them, safety.
For Mr Burt Guo of EVTOL vehicle manufacturer Aerofugia, improving safety, performance, and noise levels is top priority. His company has already achieved a significant breakthrough, reducing onboard noise output to 65 decibels — a stark contrast to the 100-decibel roar of a typical helicopter. However, he acknowledges that the greatest hurdle lies in earning public trust in this emerging technology: “Minimizing noise and vibration is one factor, but we also need to ensure all rotors remain at least two meters above head height to avoid any accidents from unforeseen circumstances such as children playing around the aircraft. There’s still much to be done.”
Meanwhile, Ms Joanne Wu from drone manufacturer Godo Innovation Technology highlighted another critical concern — potential signal interference and risks associated with open-source AI systems. “AI allows drones to fly smarter, but we avoid using open-source AI models. Instead, we have developed our own model using multiple sensors. This is essential in Hong Kong, where the city’s complex terrain and dense high-rises demand even greater safeguards for passenger safety.”
Ideal showcase
The speakers expressed strong enthusiasm for Hong Kong’s role as a dynamic incubator for emerging business models. With its well-developed infrastructure and international reach, Hong Kong serves as an ideal showcase for drone manufacturers and service providers looking to demonstrate their technologies to a global audience.
In addition to its commercial advantages, Hong Kong’s common law system offers a strategic edge in shaping regulations. Mr Sheng emphasised this point: “Hong Kong’s internationalisation strengths provide a unique opportunity to export Chinese standards to overseas markets — potentially integrating them with common law principles and positioning us at the industry’s forefront.”
Air travel for every day
38 sandbox projects were approved for trial which means residents will soon witness drones and low-altitude aircraft being deployed across emergency response and rescue operations, logistics and distribution, and infrastructure inspection and maintenance scenarios to name a few.
But this is just the beginning, according to Mr Sheng, who closed the session with a bold vision for the future: “I believe that within five years, we will see regular flights connecting Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Zhongshan along well-established commercial routes.
“In ten years, I envision each district having its own landing site and every building featuring a rooftop landing platform. Air travel will become as simple as taking a taxi.”
