Sichuan Launches First Plain‑Plateau Testing Base
Plus, “Scan to Fly” now offered in Shanghai and Sichuan.
Sichuan Port and Shipping Investment Group Co., Ltd. announced the first “plain‑plateau” comprehensive low‑altitude aircraft testing and airworthiness verification base launched for joint construction in Sichuan.
On June 2, at the Sichuan Province Key Scenario Project Promotion Event, Sichuan Low‑Altitude Economy Industry Development Co., Ltd. (四川省低空经济产业发展有限公司) – also referred to as the Provincial Low‑Altitude Economy Company – together with Zigong Aviation Industry Investment Group Co., Ltd. (自贡航空产业投资集团有限责任公司) and Ganzi Prefecture Construction Investment Group Co., Ltd. (甘孜州建设投资集团有限公司), signed an agreement to jointly build the nation’s first comprehensive low‑altitude aircraft testing and airworthiness verification base covering full “plain‑plateau” real‑world environments.
The base will integrate the resources of Zigong Fengming and Lantian dual airports, connect with Ganzi Prefecture Kangding Airport (Ganzi High Plateau Airport) and real plateau scenarios, open a cross‑regional flight corridor, and establish a service platform for airworthiness consultation, quality inspection, performance testing, flight verification, and standard setting.
Under the agreement, the Provincial Low‑Altitude Economy Company provides standard setting, testing and certification, research support, and industrial services.
Zigong Aviation Investment supplies plain testing conditions with over 40,000 flight sorties annually; and Ganzi Construction Investment provides high‑altitude plateau environments and support.
The service model is described as “plain testing in Zigong, plateau testing in Ganzi, technical services at the provincial platform.”
According to local media reports, the new base aims to shorten the airworthiness certification cycle by an estimated 30% for aircraft manufacturers.
Airport Explainer
1. Zigong Fengming General Aviation Airport (自贡凤鸣通用航空机场)
Located in Zigong City, Sichuan Province. A general aviation airport used for low‑altitude aircraft testing, drone flights, and crewed test flights. Provides plain testing conditions with reportedly stable weather and high flight volume (over 40,000 sorties annually). Part of the “Zigong dual‑airport” system.
2. Zigong Lantian General Aviation Airport (自贡兰田通用航空机场)
Also located in Zigong City, Sichuan Province. The second general aviation airport in Zigong, operating alongside Fengming Airport. Offers additional plain testing conditions and airspace resources for low‑altitude aircraft R&D and verification flights.
3. Kangding Airport (康定机场) – also referred to as Ganzi High Plateau Airport (甘孜高高原机场)
Located in Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan Province. A civil transport airport serving Kangding city. Classified as a high‑plateau airport (elevation ~4,280 m). In the testing base project, it provides real high‑altitude plateau environments for airworthiness testing, complementing the plain testing done in Zigong.
Scan to Fly — Shanghai Municipality and Sichuan Province
The news follows quickly on the heels of the Central Airspace Management Office and other departments jointly promoting “Scan to Fly.”
On June 1, the Central Airspace Management Office, together with the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Public Security, and the Civil Aviation Administration of China, designated fixed exclusive airspace within drone‑controlled airspace of Shanghai Municipality and Sichuan Province.
The adopted model is described as “government collaborative management, industry guidance and supervision, users report and fly at any time” – referred to as “Scan to Fly.”
This February, under the guidance of the Central Airspace Management Office and the National Development and Reform Commission, Sichuan launched a “Scan to Fly” WeChat mini‑program to simplify the recreational flight reporting process.
The program provides four functions — one‑tap query of airspace status and flyable areas; one‑tap reporting by scanning the drone body code and selecting a flight time; one‑tap navigation to compliant flight zones; and one‑tap insurance purchase for third‑party liability coverage.
According to the Central Airspace Management Office, Shanghai has opened exclusive airspace in scenic areas while Sichuan has used the “low‑altitude + cultural tourism” integration to implement the Scan to Fly service.
Shanghai
In Shanghai, the government has designated specific areas for drone flights under the “Scan to Fly” program, including a dedicated airspace of over 100 square kilometers (over 38.6 sq mi) set aside in the Lin‑gang Special Area for testing the new procedures.
For now, flights are capped at a maximum altitude of 120 meters (394 ft) and are permitted only between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM, though authorities have announced plans to extend operating hours to a “sunrise to sunset” schedule in the future.
As the program progresses, officials aim to raise the flight ceiling to 300 meters (984 ft) in some zones and to open up additional locations for drone flying across the city.
Sichuan
Sichuan has taken a different approach, focusing on a “low‑altitude + cultural tourism” integration while rapidly expanding its flyable airspace.
In terms of airspace, Sichuan’s second batch of pilot zones, introduced in early May 2026, added approximately 67,000 square kilometers (about 25,869 sq mi) of new flyable airspace.
Individual recreational zones can be quite large – for example, Chengdu’s Qinglong Lake Wetland Park now includes a dedicated drone zone of 1.32 square kilometers (0.51 sq mi).
The province plans to make over 80% of its total land area suitable for “Scan to Fly” operations in the future.
Regarding altitude, current regulations strictly limit all “Scan to Fly” drone flights to 120 meters (394 ft) above ground level. However, an upcoming update scheduled for June will test raising the altitude ceiling to 300 meters (984 ft) in suitable areas.
As for operational hours, flights are currently allowed only between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM. The same June update will replace this with a more flexible “sunrise to sunset” schedule, weather permitting, eliminating the current daytime restriction.
Local media reports that by mid‑May 2026, Sichuan’s “Scan to Fly” WeChat mini‑program had already registered over 40,000 users, with flight numbers continuing to rise steadily.
