China’s first “4S store” dedicated to drones has commenced trial operations at a national base for civil unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) testing in southwest China, marking a significant milestone in the development of the nation’s burgeoning low-altitude economy.
Officially known as the Low-Altitude Economy Intelligent Equipment Exhibition and Sales Center, the “4S store” began its trial run on Thursday at the “Sky Eye” UAV testing base in Pengzhou, approximately 70 kilometers from Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province.
Modeled after traditional automobile 4S stores—providing sales, spare parts, service, and surveys—the center offers comprehensive services including drone sales, maintenance, parts, and information. It also features supplementary services such as drone insurance, financial services, public education, and forum activities.
A total of 32 drone-related companies have signed agreements to establish operations within the center, contributing to the creation of a one-stop hub for drone enthusiasts and professionals alike.
“Here, you can purchase a wide variety of drones with comprehensive functions at competitive prices, while also experiencing a one-stop ‘buy and try’ service,” said Zhou Xiaoming, head of “Sky Eye.”
Finding test-flight sites and obtaining airspace approvals have long been challenges for China’s drone industry. The “Sky Eye” base addresses these issues by offering an airspace with an elevation below 1,200 meters and a radius of five kilometers, where numerous types of drones conduct various test missions daily.
In December 2017, “Sky Eye” received approval for airspace use, becoming the first civil UAV flight base in southwest China. In August 2022, it was approved as a national civil UAV testing base, allowing trial flights to be reported just one hour in advance. This pioneering move transitioned airspace management from an “approval system” to a “notification system,” effectively addressing the surging demand for airspace use, reducing user costs, and enhancing operational efficiency.
Currently, “Sky Eye” boasts ten test-flight locations and 19 low-altitude economic application scenarios, making it the largest among China’s 20 national testing bases in terms of quantity.
The base has attracted 132 entities engaged in drone research and development, production, mission payloads, and system management, injecting robust momentum into the development of Sichuan’s low-altitude economy.
China’s drone industry has experienced rapid growth. In the first half of 2024, nearly 608,000 UAVs were newly registered, an increase of 48 percent from the figure registered at the end of 2023, according to data released by the Civil Aviation Administration of China. The cumulative flight time of UAVs reached nearly 9.82 million hours during this period.
Propelled by technological innovation, China’s low-altitude economy is experiencing rapid growth. A report by a research institute under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology showed that the sector’s value reached 505.95 billion yuan (approximately $69.3 billion) in 2023 and is projected to surpass 1 trillion yuan by 2026.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
