Original Title:Department of Industry and Information Technology of Shandong Province, Development and Reform Commission of Shandong Province, Department of Education of Shandong Province, Department of Science and Technology of Shandong Province, Department of Human Resources and Social Security of Shandong Province, Department of Natural Resources of Shandong Province, Department of Transportation of Shandong Province, Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Shandong Province, Department of Commerce of Shandong Province, Health Commission of Shandong Province, Department of Emergency Management of Shandong Province, Shandong Provincial Postal Administration, Civil Aviation Administration of China Shandong Safety Supervision Bureau, Civil Aviation Administration of China Qingdao Safety Supervision Bureau, Shandong Branch of the East China Regional Air Traffic Control Bureau of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, Civil Aviation Administration of China Qingdao AirTraffic Management Station Regarding the Issuance of the "Implementation Plan for the Innovative Application of General Aviation Equipment in Shandong Province (2024–2030)"
To thoroughly implement the "Notice on Issuing the Implementation Plan for the Innovative Application of General Aviation Equipment (2024–2030)" (MIIT Joint Heavy Equipment [2024] No. 52) issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and three other departments, seize the strategic opportunities presented by intensive innovation and rapid growth in the low-altitude economy industry, foster new momentum for the innovative development of general aviation equipment, accelerate the cultivation of new productive forces, and in light of the actual conditions of our province, this plan is hereby formulated.
I. General Requirements and Objectives
Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we will thoroughly implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and fully carry out General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions regarding Shandong’s work. We will focus on “taking the lead and breaking new ground,”we will fully, accurately, and comprehensively implement the new development philosophy, actively serve and integrate into the new development paradigm, and adhere to an integrated approach that prioritizes innovation-driven development, industrial upgrading, demonstration applications, and integrated development. By adapting to local conditions to enhance the modernization of the general aviation equipment industrial chain, we will effectively lay a solid foundation for building a fully functional low-altitude economy industrial system.
By 2027, the innovation capacity and supply capabilities of the province’s general aviation equipment industry will have significantly improved. The entire industrial chain—including R&D and design, aircraft manufacturing, supporting services, and application scenarios—will be strengthened and integrated. A group of highly competitive leading enterprises and high-growth, high-quality small and medium-sized enterprises will be cultivated, and the industry’s core competitiveness will be significantly enhanced.
——Continuously Enhanced Innovation Capabilities. Original innovation and the commercialization of research outcomes will be continuously strengthened. Breakthroughs will be achieved in a range of key core technologies and equipment, including system integration, autonomous flight, intelligent obstacle avoidance, flight countermeasures, power systems, composite materials, and intelligent operation platforms. A number of “One Enterprise, One Technology” R&D centers for general aviation equipment will be established, and approximately 10 innovation platforms—such as provincial-level or higher manufacturing innovation centers, technology innovation centers, and enterprise technology centers—will be built to construct a collaborative and integrated innovation matrix for the general aviation equipment industry.
——The industry scale continues to expand. Product offerings have become more diverse, and the industrial chain has been extended. In the field of aircraft manufacturing, 1–2 aircraft models with distinct market competitiveness will be established. In the supporting sector, more than 20 leading enterprises that master core technologies and possess industry influence will emerge. Approximately 50 provincial-level or higher “single-champion” manufacturers and specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative SMEs will be cultivated, with the goal of exceeding 30 billion yuan in total industrial chain scale.
——Significant achievements in scenario demonstrations. Focusing on traditional general aviation business areas such as agricultural and forestry crop protection, geophysical exploration and inspection, aviation training, and short-haul transportation, a series of large-scale, routine operational demonstrations will be established. Efforts will be made to develop emerging application scenarios for general aviation equipment, creating a set of typical application scenarios and solutions characterized by advanced technology, outstanding application results, and replicable value. These will achieve large-scale application in fields such as unmanned logistics, urban air mobility, and low-altitude tourism, establishing demonstration models with significant national influence.
By 2030, the modernization level of the general aviation equipment industrial chain will be significantly enhanced, application scenarios will be rich and diverse, flight services will be deeply expanded, and the industrial ecosystem will be continuously improved, thereby basically establishing a general aviation equipment industrial system characterized by distinct features, rational layout, and comprehensive categories.
II. Key Tasks
(1) Prioritize the Leading Role of Scientific and Technological Innovation to Enhance Industrial Development Capabilities
1. Accelerate breakthroughs in key technologies. Strengthen performance enhancements in areas such as airframe assembly, systems, software, components, and materials. Conduct R&D and validation of new technologies such as 5G ground-to-air communication and satellite internet communication, and intensify efforts to tackle core operational control technologies including flight control, intelligent obstacle avoidance, and propulsion systems. Focus on safety technology research and development for battery failure management, crash safety, and data link security to enhance airspace maintenance capabilities and reliable surveillance capabilities.Leverage innovative research organization models such as the “challenge-based” approach to promote the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation with industrial innovation, and achieve breakthroughs in a number of key technologies that constrain industrial development.
2. Establish industrial innovation platforms. In the fields of general aviation equipment—such as high-end drones and critical components—support relevant enterprises and research institutes in leading or participating in the construction of high-level platforms, including key laboratories, technology innovation centers, and manufacturing innovation centers, to accelerate the establishment of a provincial-level industrial-grade drone manufacturing innovation center. Deepen industry-academia-research collaboration and encourage eligible enterprises to partner with universities and research institutes to jointly build new innovation platforms such as industrial research institutes and practical training bases.
3. Strengthen strategic positioning in cutting-edge sectors. Targeting the development trends of next-generation general aviation equipment, accelerate the expansion into frontier fields such as eVTOLs (electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft), flying cars, high-performance aircraft, and core components to drive the entire industrial chain toward high-end development. Enhance the application of next-generation information technologies—including 5G, industrial internet, and artificial intelligence—to foster integrated innovation between general aviation equipment and new energy sources and materials, thereby improving industrial quality and efficiency.
(II) Highlight the Leading Role of Key Industries to Promote Clustered Development
4. Cultivate and attract leading enterprises. Focusing on complete aircraft manufacturing and final assembly as the driving force, actively attract manufacturers of complete aircraft, core components, and additive manufacturing products. Accelerate the development of projects such as the Wanfeng Aircraft Diamond DA50 and the Binao Diamond DA40 complete aircraft. Support provincial enterprises in establishing partnerships with leading domestic aviation manufacturers to accelerate integration into the national complete aircraft manufacturing supply chain.Vigorously advance efforts to extend, supplement, and strengthen industrial chains. Encourage enterprises to expand into high-end segments of the general aviation equipment sector, guide enterprises in fields such as bearings, electric motors, and machining to upgrade toward supplying critical components, and cultivate a cohort of high-quality enterprises, including “single-champions” in manufacturing, specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative enterprises, and high-tech enterprises.
5. Promote the specialized development of the UAV industry. Leverage the province’s advantages in UAV application scenarios to support the development of complete UAV products such as long-endurance vertical takeoff and landing fixed-wing UAVs, heavy-payload transport UAVs, and small multi-rotor UAVs. Establish industry-leading UAV smart manufacturing demonstration production lines and actively cultivate key enterprises across the entire industrial chain. Organize integration and collaboration activities among UAV manufacturers and upstream and downstream supporting enterprises to promote coordinated industrial development.Encourage provincial UAV enterprises to engage in complementary competition with leading domestic firms, and support the growth of a group of manufacturers with distinct advantages and specialties in niche sectors such as agricultural and forestry crop protection, firefighting and rescue, and aviation logistics. Support efforts to enhance corporate competitiveness through mergers and acquisitions, capital operations, and strategic partnerships. Optimize and improve the UAV integrated management and service platform to elevate its level of intelligence and service capabilities.
6. Accelerate industrial clustering. Focusing on general aviation aircraft, UAV manufacturing, and test flights, support eligible regions in planning and constructing specialized industrial parks. Encourage industrial clusters to strengthen cooperation with leading enterprises and specialized universities and research institutes, and establish demonstration and verification centers for new products and technologies, as well as technology transfer platforms, to promote the development of industrial clusters.Support eligible industrial parks with the necessary foundations to attract UAV testing and inspection agencies, as well as research institutions specializing in airworthiness certification policies and verification, to enhance local capabilities in eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft), UAV inspection and testing, and airworthiness certification verification. Fully leverage the province’s strengths in supporting industries such as power systems, batteries, and application software to collaborate with aircraft manufacturers in building an industrial ecosystem integrating “R&D + manufacturing + services + applications.”
(3) Emphasize Supporting Infrastructure to Build a Full-Chain Industrial Advantage
7. Enhance the quality of aviation materials and components. Prioritize the development of key aviation materials such as new composite materials, polymer materials, lightweight alloys, and airframe structural materials, as well as critical components including radar domes, high-end fasteners, structural parts, aircraft tires, and high-precision pressure sensors. Support innovation and R&D in complementary products where the province holds a competitive edge, such as UAV aerial remote sensing and optoelectronic detection, while strengthening technological innovation in areas like high-efficiency power systems for new energy and the conversion of manned aircraft into unmanned systems to expand the scope and range of product applications.
8. Accelerate the Development of Power Equipment Industries. Targeting the R&D needs of aviation power equipment, conduct system integration verification, improve the independent R&D system, and establish a research and development base for small and medium-sized aviation power systems. Focus on breakthroughs in manufacturing technologies for key core components of aircraft engines, actively pursue integrated research on design and manufacturing as well as materials and structures, and develop specialized manufacturing capabilities for complete aircraft engines, as well as blades and integral blisks.Vigorously advance the development and production of high-performance turbojet, turbofan, and turboprop engines, and accelerate the achievement of mass delivery and large-scale market application.
9. Strengthen the airport ground equipment industry. Focus on key airport equipment products in areas such as aircraft maintenance services, fueling, runway maintenance, cabin services, and airport firefighting. Intensify research on technologies such as electric motors, power supplies, and multi-function controllers; develop new energy power products (e.g., energy storage systems) and all-electric drive systems; and achieve full coverage of green, energy-efficient products in airport special-purpose vehicles.
10. Improve infrastructure development. Adhering to the principle of moderate foresight, accelerate the construction of general aviation airports. Encourage regional transport airports to add general aviation facilities and build “transport-general aviation integrated” airports.Building on the province’s existing air transport and industrial support infrastructure, we will actively seek airspace resources to accelerate the establishment of airspace advantages. In response to development needs in urban air mobility, emergency rescue, medical evacuation, and low-altitude logistics, we will deploy takeoff and landing platforms at eligible locations such as islands, hospitals, schools, and sports stadiums. We will explore the establishment of flight service stations in cities with high low-altitude flight volumes and favorable infrastructure to provide efficient and precise flight services.
(4) Prioritize Application Scenarios to Drive Product Iteration and Upgrades
11. Promote the large-scale application of agricultural services. Support the integration of general aviation equipment into modern agricultural mechanization systems to enhance the precision and intelligence of agricultural aviation operations. Strengthen policy support for subsidies on the purchase and application of agricultural machinery to promote the large-scale use of crop protection drones, thereby better meeting the growing demand for new agricultural machinery in production. In conjunction with training programs for new-type professional farmers, strengthen training and guidance on key aerial pest control technologies and standardized pesticide application operations.
12. Expand applications in the industrial sector. Fully leverage technologies such as low-altitude unmanned aerial systems, 5G high-speed communication, big data analysis, and AI-based image recognition for fault diagnosis. In fields such as aerial lifting for engineering construction, cleaning of power transmission and distribution lines, pipeline inspection, and aerial geophysical exploration, guide the accelerated application of general aviation equipment to effectively meet diverse industrial operational needs and foster the development of a general aviation equipment service system that supports the advancement of the manufacturing industry.
13. Expand applications in emergency rescue. Focusing on areas such as forest firefighting, medical emergency response, aerial rescue, and emergency communications, increase the application of these technologies in on-site detection, command and dispatch, decision support, supply delivery, and disaster assessment. Promote the development of an emergency rescue equipment system where large fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and drones complement each other’s functions; improve emergency rescue systems and mechanisms; and expand the demonstration and application of aviation emergency rescue equipment.
14. Deepen aviation logistics and distribution.Focusing on logistics and distribution needs across the “trunk-feeder-last-mile” network, explore the establishment of low-altitude logistics routes and promote operational models that integrate fixed UAV logistics routes with last-mile delivery, achieving full-process automated delivery including automatic takeoff, autonomous cruising, automatic landing, automatic unloading, and automatic return. Explore new smart logistics models and vigorously promote the application of general aviation equipment in scenarios such as urban-rural logistics, cross-sea logistics, mainland-island logistics, and mountainous region logistics.
15. Expand industry application scenarios. Focusing on industry applications and public services, increase the use of general aviation in fields such as marine monitoring, river and lake patrols, meteorological observation, accident response, and security and safety.Develop new “Aviation+” business models such as drone logistics, helicopter piloting services, short-haul general aviation transport, and financial leasing. Leveraging the province’s high-quality cultural and tourism resources, encourage eligible 4A-rated and higher tourist attractions to establish aviation flight camps within their catchment areas to conduct aviation sports, aviation study tours, and low-altitude recreational flights, thereby expanding the general aviation consumer market.
(5) Breakthroughs in Derivative Markets to Expand Industry Scale and Volume
16. Accelerate the development of the test flight industry. Focusing on aircraft test flight needs, actively develop services such as design optimization, ground testing, on-site test flight testing and modification, and certification test flights. Encourage eligible regions to build comprehensive UAV application testing bases. Actively engage with leading enterprises such as COMAC to accelerate the enhancement of follow-up functions and the construction of related projects at the COMAC Dongying Base, and actively plan for the establishment and implementation of the COMAC Northern Completion and Delivery Center.Construct civil unmanned aviation test zones (bases) to high standards, accelerate industrial clustering, and promote the high-quality development of general aviation-related industries.
17. Enhance maintenance service capabilities. Leverage the province’s technical strengths in aircraft maintenance to actively expand the full-chain aircraft maintenance business, including maintenance of complete aircraft, components, and engines. Encourage aircraft maintenance enterprises to upgrade their qualifications for line maintenance, scheduled inspections, and heavy overhauls, and improve supporting services such as testing, insurance, and consulting.
18. Expand the field of modification and design. Support leading provincial aircraft maintenance enterprises in collaborating with top domestic firms to expand into business areas such as R&D and modification for passenger-to-cargo conversions and modifications for general aviation aircraft, and achieve the industrialization of projects such as emergency battery component products and aircraft seat power system modifications.
19. Strengthen the R&D of simulation equipment. Enhance the development of flight simulation training equipment for general aviation aircraft models, explore the application of virtual reality technology and other innovations in flight simulation training, and support the cultivation of flight personnel. In collaboration with key universities and training institutions, establish a flight quality monitoring system to comprehensively record flight data, engine and airframe system status, as well as video surveillance and ADS-B (Beidou or GPS) information, thereby enabling full-process supervision of flight instruction and improving training standards.
20. Build a hub for aviation talent. Aligning with domestic aviation industry trends and professional talent needs, conduct training and development for test pilots, test engineers, and test and maintenance engineers through test flight bases.Strengthen cooperation with institutions such as Shandong Aviation University and Shandong University of Foreign Languages and Vocational Technology, adopting models such as “academic education + pilot license training” and “academic education + professional certification” to intensify talent development in manufacturing, aircraft maintenance, air traffic control, and repair, thereby establishing a professional aviation talent system and hub.
III. Support Measures
(1) Improve the Implementation Mechanism. Strengthen in-depth coordination and resource integration across departments and levels. Timely assess the operational status of key regions and projects, coordinate the resolution of major issues in industrial development, and comprehensively advance the implementation of provincial general aviation industry development plans, the formulation of support policies, and the investment promotion and construction of major projects. Create a first-class business environment, enhance follow-up research and supervision, and ensure the orderly progress of key tasks.
(2) Increase Support for Key Resources. Implement the mechanism of “allocating resources to follow projects.” For eligible key projects in the general aviation equipment industry, comprehensively strengthen the provision of resources such as funding, energy consumption quotas, environmental capacity, and land. Enhance policy support, including insurance compensation mechanisms for the first-of-a-kind technical equipment and first-batch new materials, to promote the application and dissemination of innovative products.Addressing the spectrum resource needs of low-altitude radio services, ensure the effective supply of relevant spectrum resources in accordance with the law; prevent and investigate harmful radio interference in the low-altitude sector; and safeguard radio safety in communications, navigation, and surveillance. Encourage financial institutions to innovate services and financial products, explore service solutions such as intellectual property insurance and securitization, and broaden financing channels for major projects in the general aviation equipment sector.
(3) Strengthen Service Support. Improve the statistical system for the innovative application of general aviation equipment and enhance monitoring and analysis of industry operations. Compile a list of key enterprises and projects and intensify follow-up services. Encourage industry organizations to leverage their resource advantages, formulate industry norms and product standards, actively provide enterprises with consulting services on information, technology, and management, coordinate the advancement of industrial chain support and collaborative innovation, and promote the healthy and orderly development of the innovative application of general aviation equipment.
(4) Foster a Favorable Environment. Implement support policies for entrepreneurs and urgently needed talent regarding startup venues, research funding, living allowances, and social security, and optimize the environment for non-local talent to seek employment and start businesses in Shandong. Strengthen public opinion guidance, increase efforts to interpret and publicize policies, and vigorously promote advanced experiences and best practices in the innovation and application of general aviation equipment to foster a favorable development environment.
This Implementation Plan shall take effect on July 12, 2024, and remain valid until December 31, 2030.
