Wuhan city approves 18 cargo and passenger UAM routes – first drone flights launched  

The China Netease news website reports that 18 low-altitude commercial drone delivery and passenger carrying routes have been approved in Wuhan, with first urban drone cargo routes launched on November 13.

Earlier this year the Wuhan Municipal Government issued the “Implementation Opinions on Supporting the High-quality Development of the Low-altitude Economy in Wuhan” (Wuhan Government Office [2024] No. 25) and “Several Measures for Wuhan to Support the High-quality Development of the Low-altitude Economy”, which aimed to open more than 10 low-altitude commercial drone and crewed aircraft routes within the year.

“A total of 58 low-altitude commercial routes and more than 70 urban management route applications were received from 9 companies,” said the news report.….”To ensure the safety of low-altitude flight activities and taking into account the pilot needs of various scenarios, the Municipal Transportation Bureau organized various companies to screen route plans and formed a low-altitude route plan that focuses on drone logistics routes while taking into account scenarios such as air travel and intercity transportation.

“In mid-October, 18 low-altitude commercial pilot routes were officially approved, and Wuhan entered a new era of three-dimensional transportation. On November 12, the “Hankou North Low-altitude Port” started operation… The 18 low-altitude commercial pilot routes approved this time include five manned routes, 12 cargo routes and one monitoring route.”

“After careful preparation by relevant low-altitude enterprises, two low-altitude short-distance passenger routes, Hannan-Shiyan and Hannan-Jingzhou (Laoshashi Airport), were opened on October 15. The flight time from Wuhan to the two places is only 2 hours and 30 minutes and 1 hour, which greatly facilitates passenger transportation between the two places and is truly a “flying taxi”.”

“On October 15, the short-distance passenger routes from Wuhan Hannan Airport to Shiyan and Jingzhou were officially opened

“The other three manned routes are mainly for aerial sightseeing. Among them, the Nan’anzui-Jiangang and Qingshanjiangtan-Zhongshan Road routes are tourist routes for visiting the two rivers and four banks. Citizens can take a helicopter to feel the majestic momentum of Wuhan and the Yangtze River in the air.

“Another route on Tianxingzhou is the powered trike, also known as a powered hang glider, where you can experience the feeling of flying over the Yangtze River.”

On November 13, the Wushang Mall-Dream Era low-altitude commercial route, operated by SF Express and Wushang Group, was opened, “becoming the country’s first cross-river low-altitude commercial route.”