Da Nang opens up low-altitude space: From pilot services to new economic infrastructure

As major cities face growing pressure on ground transport infrastructure, low-altitude airspace (below 300 metres) is increasingly being viewed as an untapped resource.

With diverse terrain encompassing seaports, rivers, mountains, densely populated urban areas, and existing information technology infrastructure, Da Nang has ideal conditions for operationalising this model.

However, the core of Da Nang’s scheme is not about racing to manufacture aerial vehicles or increase the number of drones in the sky.

Digital economy experts assert that the real value of the low-altitude economy lies in the chain of services generated by flight operations, ranging from reconnaissance data and last-mile logistics integration to environmental management and digital airspace coordination platforms.

Positioning Da Nang as a centre for technology integration, policy experimentation, and service provision for the Central Viet Nam-Central Highlands region is the long-term challenge with the greatest potential for added value.

The pilot programme is expected to run for 18 months, from late 2026 to early 2028, covering three key service groups.

However, Dr Tran Thien Phuong, Vice President of the Viet Nam Aerospace and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Network and a representative of the Low-Altitude Economy Alliance, noted that the biggest obstacle at present is not technology but airspace management mechanisms and supporting technical infrastructure.

First, shifting from a pre-inspection to a technology-enabled post-inspection management model is imperative.

Low-altitude flight operations require a high degree of flexibility while strictly complying with defence, security, and safety regulations.

Therefore, moving from traditional administrative licensing to real-time low-altitude air traffic management is seen as a prerequisite.

The system must be capable of identifying aircraft, automated monitoring, and direct connection with data on national airspace management.

Second, synchronising supporting infrastructure will play a decisive role. To enable five aviation companies and 10 businesses across the value chain to function optimally, Da Nang needs to address both hard and soft infrastructure, from networks of take-off and landing sites and automated charging stations to dedicated telecommunications frequency bands and a set of criteria clearly defining the roles of the government and the scope for market-driven innovation.

The low-altitude economy is not simply a short-term technological solution, but a test of the capacity for smart urban governance.

If institutional bottlenecks and airspace infrastructure constraints can be successfully addressed, Da Nang will not only create a new growth driver for itself but also provide a standardised model for cities across the country in the digital economy era.