Hong Kong outlines 15 drone traffic management pilot projects under regulatory sandbox
Hong Kong's government has detailed 15 unmanned traffic management system demonstration projects under its 'Regulatory Sandbox X', with nine already launched. The projects test pre-flight, in-flight and post-flight operations, while cross-border low-altitude logistics trials are being pursued with m
The Hong Kong government has provided details on 15 unmanned traffic management (UTM) system demonstration pilot projects under the advanced 'Regulatory Sandbox X' initiative, as part of its push to develop the low-altitude economy. According to a legislative council reply published on 28 October 2026, the projects began rolling out in the first half of this year, with nine already underway. Each demonstration lasts about 10 weeks, and all are expected to be completed by the first half of 2027.
The 15 projects cover the entire operational cycle of drone management: pre-flight flight plan declaration and approval, in-flight real-time monitoring and conflict warning, and post-flight data recording and analysis. Service providers have been assigned to set up their UTM systems at the Civil Aviation Department headquarters in batches to showcase system functions and technical specifications. The demonstrations involve different airspace ranges and application scenarios but do not involve actual low-altitude traffic management operations, the government said.
On cross-border operations, the Development of Low-Altitude Economy Working Group is actively cooperating with mainland authorities to advance cross-border low-altitude logistics trial flights. The government noted that the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has strong market demand for cross-border logistics of commercial documents, high-end business goods and emergency supplies. The working group aims to realise cross-border low-altitude logistics trial flights as soon as possible under the Regulatory Sandbox X framework, gradually expanding the Greater Bay Area low-altitude cross-border logistics network.
The government also outlined plans for a Smart Low-Altitude Traffic Management System (SLATMS), announced in the 2026 Policy Address, with phased implementation targeted for 2028. The Civil Aviation Department has begun technical research to develop SLATMS operational concepts and technical requirements, covering communications, navigation and surveillance infrastructure, as well as remote identification technology. The study will also address data sharing and interoperability with neighbouring mainland systems to support future Greater Bay Area cross-border low-altitude traffic.
For the SLATMS technical study, the government is benchmarking against multiple jurisdictions, including Shenzhen and Guangzhou in mainland China, as well as the United States, Europe, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Singapore. The study, expected to be completed in 2027, will draw on mature local and international experiences to build a framework that suits Hong Kong's complex, high-rise terrain while aligning with mainland, regional and international regulatory standards. The government emphasised that the low-altitude economy is a national strategic emerging pillar industry, and Hong Kong's first five-year plan (2026–2030) sets the goal of becoming an Asia-Pacific hub for low-altitude innovation applications.