The global low‑altitude economy is entering a period of rapid growth. In 2024, the term “low‑altitude economy” was written into China’s Government Work Report for the first time, marking this sector as a national strategic priority. By 2026, China’s eVTOL market is expected to exceed RMB 10 billion, and the overall scale of the low‑altitude economy will be even larger, demonstrating tremendous development potential. Against this backdrop, vertical take‑off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, as the core equipment of the low‑altitude economy, have attracted significant attention.

Since March 2026, the airworthiness certification of low‑altitude VTOL aircraft in East China has been unified under the CAAC Jiangxi Airworthiness Certification Center, making Jiangxi the key hub for low‑altitude airworthiness certification in the region. Jingdezhen, as the national helicopter R&D centre in China, possesses a deep industrial foundation in helicopter development and manufacturing, supported by dedicated flight test sites and airspace resources. Its existing helicopter test facilities are fully capable of meeting the test and validation requirements of VTOL aircraft, including eVTOLs and drones.

It is in this context that the VTOL Congress 2026, organised by the Chinese Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics (CSAA), will take place on 19‑20 September 2026 in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province. The event aims to provide a full‑industry‑chain exchange platform for the global VTOL community, covering everything from design and manufacturing to commercial operation. Participants will have the opportunity to gain in‑depth insights into the latest policy trends, technological innovations and application scenarios, while establishing direct contacts with airframe manufacturers, operators and infrastructure suppliers – working together to advance the low‑altitude economy ecosystem.