Various eVTOL aircraft are seen parked at the site of the Heli-Eastern Low-Altitude Integrated Flight Demonstration Base during a launch event in Yantian on April 15. File photo

China's first integrated airspace operations demonstration base officially broke ground in Yantian District, Shenzhen,signaling a major step forward in the country's rapidly developing low-altitude economy.

The April 15 launch event for the Heli-Eastern Low-Altitude Integrated Flight Demonstration Base marked the beginning of construction on a project aimed at advancing innovation and coordinated growth in low-altitude aviation.

The base will serve as a national model for integrated airspace operations, a regional hub for emergency aviation services, and a platform for showcasing and trading low-altitude aviation technologies in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The project focuses on building a full-chain ecosystem that supports eVTOL aircraft, drones, emergency response systems, and low-altitude logistics. Liu Daxiang, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, called the initiative a "people-first public project" that strengthens the region's emergency aviation infrastructure.

A highlight of the event was a flight demonstration jointly staged by Heli-Eastern, Xpeng Aeroht, GODO, and other leading companies. The flights showcased the practical application of integrated low-altitude operations, moving the industry from theoretical exploration to real-world deployment.

Heli-Eastern also signed strategic cooperation agreements with 21 enterprises across the low-altitude aviation value chain. These partnerships span aircraft manufacturing, drone logistics, communication and navigation systems, surveillance technologies, and financial investment — all aimed at building a collaborative industrial ecosystem.

"The project is designed to be a national benchmark for low-altitude economic development and a new growth engine for the Greater Bay Area," said Zhao Qi, chairman of Heli-Eastern. "We invite all stakeholders to join us in exploring the vast potential of this trillion-yuan industry," he added.

Yantian, with its expansive, clear airspace and rich natural resources, has emerged as a prime location for low-altitude economic development. Since early 2024, the district has led the way by launching a low-altitude scenario application management system and developing Shenzhen'sdensest network of takeoff and landing facilities.