The low-altitude economy is a comprehensive economic model driven by various low-altitude flight activities involving both manned and unmanned aircraft, which in turn stimulates the integrated development of related sectors. It encompasses areas such as low-altitude manufacturing, low-altitude flight operations, low-altitude support services, and comprehensive services. General aviation is a key component of the low-altitude economy, while the drone industry is its leading sector.
The low-altitude economy spans the primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors, primarily comprising upstream raw material and component supply, midstream aircraft design and manufacturing, and downstream applications and services.
Upstream Segment of the Low-Altitude Economy Industry Chain
The upstream segment of the low-altitude economy is an extension of the new energy vehicle and consumer electronics industries.
From a supply chain perspective, 70%–80% of the raw materials, parts, and components for EVTOLs overlap with those used in existing new energy vehicle and consumer electronics industries; The remaining 20% consists of high-reliability, expensive components used in traditional aircraft.
1. Key Raw Materials
The use of composite materials in various types of aircraft is increasing year by year. In EVTOLs (electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft) and medium-to-large drones, which are more sensitive to weight, the proportion of composite materials used exceeds 70%. Of the composite materials used in eVTOLs, over 90% are carbon fiber composites, while the remaining approximately 10% are glass fiber-reinforced composites used as protective coatings. Aluminum alloys are primarily used for aircraft fuselage skins, wing spars, wing ribs, and other non-critical structural components. Titanium alloys are widely used in critical components such as aircraft engine blades, fasteners, and landing gear, as well as various structural parts of spacecraft.
2. Components & Parts
(1) Propeller: A component that generates lift or thrust through rotation; the propeller structure of drones and eVTOLs is relatively simpler than that of helicopters.
(2) Chips: The "brain" of the aircraft.
(3) Landing Gear: A critical component specifically designed for takeoff and landing; it must support the aircraft's entire weight on the ground and absorb and dissipate impact forces during landing.
(4) Structural Components: These primarily include the fuselage, wings, tail surfaces, rotors, supports and frames, protective covers/casing, and control surfaces, which together form the aircraft's skeleton.
