Latest news with #SmallUnmannedAircraftOrder
RTHK
23-07-2025
- Business
- RTHK
Low-altitude economy rules 'must allow for taxi tests'
Low-altitude economy rules 'must allow for taxi tests' Lawmaker Chan Siu-hung, second left, says more relaxations of rules are needed so businesses can carry out trials on the transport of people and heavier cargo loads in the future. Photo: RTHK The Low Altitude Economy Association on Wednesday suggested 13 ways that the government can expand the development potential of the new industrial sector. One of its suggestions is for unmanned aircraft weighing more than 150 kilogrammes to come under regulatory oversight. The suggestion comes in the wake of amendments to the Small Unmanned Aircraft Order of the Civil Aviation Ordinance coming into effect on Friday that regulates such aerial vehicles weighing between 25 and 150 kilogrammes. Machines exceeding the 150 kilogramme limit will have to obtain permission from the Civil Aviation Department before they can take flight. Speaking for the association, lawmaker Chan Siu-hung said more relaxations were needed to enable businesses to perform trials on transporting humans and cargo. 'We must be mindful that you need to carry out a series of pilot runs or trial runs in order to collect sufficient data to assess safety implications as well as the risks associated with such a pilot," he said. "Rather than allow the carrying of real persons on the unmanned aerial vehicles, the government should think of allowing the carrying of dummies with the same size as well as similar weight for the purpose of trial runs," he added. Chan's association and legislative colleague Frankie Yick said the government should also develop more cross-border logistical routes through waterways despite high expectations for the low-altitude economic potential associated with the Northern Metropolis. 'At the end of the day, we will to have much more than one [flight] route," he said. "The Northern Metropolis is one of the places that we are talking about because it is close to the Shenzhen area, but how about other parts of the Guangdong area? "Or even in the future if we can, we can go even further to Guangxi, because we can fly [unmanned aircraft] all over the sea." Among the other suggestions are for a comprehensive training system to be instituted for those looking to use such aircraft and for a department to be set up specifically to promote the development of the low-altitude economy.
RTHK
23-07-2025
- Business
- RTHK
Low-altitude economy rules 'must allow for taxi tests'
Low-altitude economy rules 'must allow for taxi tests' Lawmaker Chan Siu-hung, second left, says more relaxations of rules are needed so businesses can carry out trials on the transport of people and heavier cargo loads in the future. Photo: RTHK The Low Altitude Economy Association on Wednesday suggested 13 ways that the government can expand the development potential of the new industrial sector. One of its suggestions is for unmanned aircraft weighing more than 150 kilogrammes to come under regulatory oversight. The suggestion comes in the wake of amendments to the Small Unmanned Aircraft Order of the Civil Aviation Ordinance coming into effect on Friday that regulates such aerial vehicles weighing between 25 and 150 kilogrammes. Machines exceeding the 150 kilogramme limit will have to obtain permission from the Civil Aviation Department before they can take flight. Speaking for the association, lawmaker Chan Siu-hung said more relaxations were needed to enable businesses to perform trials on transporting humans and cargo. 'We must be mindful that you need to carry out a series of pilot runs or trial runs in order to collect sufficient data to assess safety implications as well as the risks associated with such a pilot," he said. "Rather than allow the carrying of real persons on the unmanned aerial vehicles, the government should think of allowing the carrying of dummies with the same size as well as similar weight for the purpose of trial runs," he added. Chan's association and legislative colleague Frankie Yick said the government should also develop more cross-border logistical routes through waterways despite high expectations for the low-altitude economic potential associated with the Northern Metropolis. 'At the end of the day, we will to have much more than one [flight] route," he said. "The Northern Metropolis is one of the places that we are talking about because it is close to the Shenzhen area, but how about other parts of the Guangdong area? "Or even in the future if we can, we can go even further to Guangxi, because we can fly [unmanned aircraft] all over the sea." Among the other suggestions are for a comprehensive training system to be instituted for those looking to use such aircraft and for a department to be set up specifically to promote the development of the low-altitude economy.
South China Morning Post
20-03-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Food deliveries by drone to take flight in Hong Kong as early as April
Hong Kong residents may enjoy having their food delivered using drones as early as April, with one lawmaker expecting civil aviation regulations to be relaxed by October to allow wider usage of commercial unmanned aerial vehicles. Advertisement Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said on Thursday that businesses involved in pilot drone projects could start offering their services next month. These services include CLP Power's use of drones to monitor transmission towers, food delivery, and emergency transport of first aid resources during rescue operations, she said. 'We hope that as the routes and infrastructure develop, these sandbox projects will become commercially operational,' she said at a launch ceremony of the low-altitude economy regulatory sandbox project. Among the proposed amendments to the existing Small Unmanned Aircraft Order are increasing the weight limit of drones from 25kg (55lbs) to 150kg and allowing flying beyond the pilot's sight. Advertisement Chan said the government aimed to amend the civil aviation laws by the end of the second quarter and allow the director of civil aviation to permit passenger drones under these sandbox projects.
