Hong Kong drone tests for low-altitude economy to follow line-of-sight rule

Hong Kong’s drone-based trial runs under its push to develop a low-altitude economy will put safety first by requiring testing of the devices to be conducted within the direct eye line of operators.

Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said on Friday that 38 projects were selected from among 72 applications and would cover activities such as logistics, air traffic management, emergency rescue, parcel delivery and infrastructure inspection.

“Initially, the flying will be conducted step by step within a visual line of sight,” she told a radio programme, expressing hopes the tests and their resulting data could help the project go beyond activities that required line of sight in the future.

“These drones will be equipped with safety devices, including several propellers serving as a backup system for any emergency landings at appropriate locations for touching down.

“We are also developing self-protection measures for drones at universities as well as extra drones to monitor those that are working.”

The low-altitude economy refers to activities taking place in airspace within 1km (0.62 miles) of the ground, including goods delivered by drones or passengers travelling by flying cars.

The scheme was launched last November and aims to help the government test airspace operations and infrastructure as well as develop policies and regulatory guidelines for the industry.