A pilot route for low-altitude passenger transport linking Shanghai's Lin-gang Special Area and Shengsi county in East China's Zhejiang province was launched on Nov 29, shortening travel time from over two hours to just 20 minutes.

A helicopter departs from the Lin-gang Special Area for Shengsi county in Zhejiang province. [Photo/WeChat ID: shlgguanweihui]

The Airbus H225 helicopter, an 11-metric-ton multi-purpose helicopter, carried out the first flight of the route. Featuring a long range and capable of carrying large loads, H225 is widely used in both the military and civilian aviation markets.

Passengers prepare for their flight. [Photo/WeChat ID: shlgguanweihui]

The take-off and landing point of Dishui Lake North Island in the Lin-gang Special Area is a key node on the low-altitude flight network of the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region. In the future, Lingang Rapid Transit and GDAT General Aviation will make use of the point to plan multiple short-distance transport routes and build a flight network within the YRD region.

The combination of the low-altitude economy and cultural tourism offers a new way to appreciate the natural and urban landscape. Lingang Rapid Transit and GDAT General Aviation will work together to create a regular low-altitude flight route and launch multiple tourist routes based on the cultural and tourism attractions of Lin-gang and Shengsi.