推薦序三

As the world accelerates toward the era of Advanced Air Mobility（AAM），the transition from Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Management（UTM）to a dynamic ecosystem of electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft，drone deliveries，and urban air taxis is well underway.Leading this transformation is China，pioneering the concept of the Low-Altitude Economy（LAE）—a visionary，state-coordinated ecosystem that seamlessly integrates drones，logistics，emergency response，and even entertainment into a unified national strategy.Unlike the fragmented，market-driven approaches seen elsewhere，China's model prioritizes scale，integration，and infrastructure-backed deployment.

With an extensive and growing volume of drone flight hours across diverse vehicle types and complex terrains—from dense urban areas to remote rural landscapes—China has amassed an unparalleled dataset on low-altitude aviation.The daily and annual operational records generate vast amounts of data，which，if systematically analysed，will be crucial in ensuring safe and efficient operations.This mirrors what has been successfully implemented in the manned aviation and automotive industries—where real-world operational data could be leveraged to enhance safety，efficiency，and regulatory oversight.The sheer scale of China's real-world drone operations provides an unmatched practical，commercial，and regulatory learning opportunity for the global AAM community.

My passion for this field began during my tenure at the Air Traffic Management Research Institute（ATMRI）at Nanyang Technological University（NTU），Singapore，where I led a pioneering research project on Traffic Management for Unmanned Aircraft Systems（TM-UAS）in 2016.This initiative marked the start of my deep exploration into urban UTM and its challenges，particularly in highly urbanized environments like Singapore.Under my leadership，ATMRI secured multiple UTM-related research projects，expanding both our scope and expertise.My engagement in global policy discussions further enriched my understanding，particularly through participation in ICAO's Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems Panel（RPASP）meetings and Drone Enable symposiums in Montreal，Canada.I still vividly recall my first presentation at ICAO's inaugural Drone Enable event in 2017，where the team's insights into urban traffic management for unmanned systems resonated with regulators and industry leaders，sparking discussions that continue to shape global UTM strategies.

When I first encountered China's Low-Altitude Economy，I was electrified.Here was a bold，strategically coordinated national initiative—an even more ambitious realization of the urban air mobility ecosystem I had long envisioned.My excitement deepened when I discovered Professor Renbiao Wu's seminal work，a book I had long awaited to comprehensively understand China's LAE in all its dimensions.Professor Wu，a leading authority on aerial regulatory frameworks and strategic implementation，is frequently sought after by policymakers and the media，as evidenced by the extensive references in Chapters 4 and 5 of this book.His work represents the first exhaustive comparative study of China's Low-Altitude Economy，examining not only its technological advancements but also its economic，regulatory，and societal implications.It provides a clear roadmap，tracing the origins，current landscape，and future trajectory of this revolutionary field.

Globally，Advanced Air Mobility has been driven largely by private-sector innovation，fuelled by venture capital and regulatory sandboxes.Yet，progress remains uneven，hindered by fragmented regulations，public scepticism，and high infrastructure costs.China，however，has taken a fundamentally different approach—one based on state-backed infrastructure，large-scale integration，and long-term strategic planning.Rather than treating low-altitude airspace as an incremental regulatory challenge，China approaches it as a national utility，much like highways or 5G networks.As this book details，the Chinese government has established specialized economic zones，invested heavily in digital airspace management，and actively incentivized drone applications across agriculture，surveillance，logistics，and e-commerce.

For entrepreneurs，this book serves as a strategic investment guide.For policymakers，it provides a crucial understanding of the regulatory trade-offs shaping the future of low-altitude airspace.For technologists，it offers an insightful analysis of innovation under different governance models.Having worked on unmanned aircraft systems traffic management since its inception，I believe this is the most important book yet on the global competition for lowaltitude airspace.The winner of this race will not only dominate aviation but will also reshape global supply chains，smart cities，and national security，etc.

The skies are no longer the limit—they are the next frontier of economic transformation.And China's Low-Altitude Economy is leading the charge.Professor Wu's insights are indispensable for anyone preparing for this skyborne revolution.

Fasten your seatbelt—this book is a fascinating journey into the future of flight.

Dr.Low，Kin Huat

Distinguished Professor

Research Institute of Airspace Integration ＆ Safe Operation

Civil Aviation University of China，China

Honorary Fellow，Singapore Institute of Aerospace Engineers，Singapore

Programme Director，Urban Aerial Transport Traffic Management and Systems

Air Traffic Management Research Institute

Nanyang Technological University，Singapore（2018—2023）

Professor，School of Mechanical ＆ Aerospace Engineering

Nanyang Technological University，Singapore（1988—2023）

Among the“World's Top 2% Scientists” listed by Stanford University

（2020—2024）

Singapore，March 2025