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Plan to introduce passenger drones to Hong Kong to operate the Central Kwun Tong route

2021-03-23T13:52:43.405Z


Hong Kong's promotion of unmanned vehicles has encountered many obstacles in regulations and testing, and unmanned aircraft are even harder to imagine. However, the newly established "Seaplane (Hong Kong) Airlines" at the beginning of the year announced that it intends to use the waterway without hearing the noise of the stairs.


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Written by: Zhong Yan

2021-03-23 ​​21:39

Last update date: 2021-03-23 ​​21:39

Hong Kong's promotion of unmanned vehicles has encountered many obstacles in regulations and testing, and unmanned aircraft are even harder to imagine.

However, the newly established "Seaplane (Hong Kong) Airlines" at the beginning of the year announced its intention to introduce passenger drones to Hong Kong without hearing the noise of the stairs.

Zhang Jinglong, one of the founders of Seaplane Aviation, pointed out that the planned passenger drone service will be able to shuttle between Central, Kwun Tong Business District and Tseung Kwan O New Town.

Even if the relevant regulations for passenger drones in Hong Kong are not yet complete, the company voices its confidence that it can start trial operation at the end of 2021, making Hong Kong one of the first cities in the world to introduce passenger drones and operate seaplanes.

Zhang Jinglong said that he has initially contacted the Civil Aviation Department and the Maritime Affairs Department on the project. He will also meet with the Chief Executive at the end of the month. After that, he will submit papers to apply for a trial license.

However, both the Marine Department and the Civil Aviation Department stated that they had not received any application for services related to seaplanes and passenger drones, and could not comment for the time being.

There is no unmanned passenger aircraft in Hong Kong at present, even if the amendment to the UAV under 7 kg has not been completed.

(Screenshot of seaplane aviation video)

Seaplane aviation refers to the estimated non-peak hour one-way fare for passenger drones can be as low as 200 yuan per trip.

Zhang Jinglong said that the UAV planned to be introduced is fully electric, with an appearance as large as a 7-seater vehicle, and the operating principle is an enlarged version of the UAV currently used for aerial photography, which can be arranged to lift on a traditional helipad.

He pointed out that the drones that the company plans to buy can seat two passengers, and the current technology can accommodate up to six people. Each drone can fly at a speed of more than 100 kilometers per hour and has a range of about 30 to 50 kilometers.

Zhang Jinglong revealed that the first passenger drone will arrive in Hong Kong this year, and the manufacturer will assist in applying for a test license and try to obtain certification.

He pointed out that the biggest concern about whether passenger drone routes can be put into operation in Hong Kong is that Hong Kong does not have any laws related to passenger drones. Legislation is needed, and charging facilities and airports for water and drones must also be prepared.

He said that the company has been arranged to meet at the Chief Executive's Office, and he is confident that the project can receive government support.

Seaplane Aviation also publicly announced the operation of seaplane routes earlier, and was asked about the progress of its application for an Air Operator Permit (AOC).

Zhang claimed that he would re-enter the paper application after meeting with the chief executive.

The "Greater Bay Area Aviation" led by Shenzhen's wealthy businessman Huang Chubiao had applied for AOC as early as August last year, but the Civil Aviation Department has not heard of it.

The Hong Kong government has never mentioned the introduction of passenger drones

According to the information, the Hong Kong government is currently focusing on formulating safe operation guidelines for drones under 7 kg, limiting the operating altitude to no more than 300 feet above the ground. It also restricts the airspace around the Victoria Harbour and the airport from flying. The current drone system requires lease or To receive remuneration, you need to apply for a permit from the Civil Aviation Department.

Except for railways, Hong Kong currently does not yet have fully automatic driving public transport.

At present, the Transport Department is still in the testing stage for auto-driving cars. It plans to study and amend the legislation this year to set the conditions and supporting measures required for testing auto-driving vehicles. There is no mention of the introduction of passenger drones.

The Civil Aviation Department and the Marine Department have not received relevant applications

The Civil Aviation Department stated that in order to ensure aviation safety, all aviation operations in Hong Kong must comply with the requirements of the Air Navigation (Hong Kong) Order 1995 (Chapter 448C) and related regulations.

The Civil Aviation Department has noticed that some companies have recently expressed interest in operating seaplanes and drones in Hong Kong.

If the department receives a specific proposal from the industry, it will be considered based on international standards and local conditions.

However, the Civil Aviation Department has not received any application from the relevant company and it is not appropriate to comment at this stage.

The Marine Department stated that the Marine Department has not received any relevant applications for the establishment of seaplane services in Hong Kong waters and cannot comment at the moment.

▼On March 17th, the Hong Kong government announced the roadmap for the popularization of electric vehicles▼

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Source: hk1

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