On July 31, a collaboration agreement was signed in Zhenjiang, bringing together the Jiangsu Provincial Meteorological Observatory, the Zhenjiang Meteorological Bureau, the Zhenjiang Maritime Safety Administration, and Hongchuang Ship Technology (Jiangsu Zhenjiang) Co., Ltd. The partnership aims to establish a joint workshop for low-altitude flight meteorological services and maritime supervision along the Yangtze River.

The Zhenjiang waterway of the Yangtze River is characterized by dense anchorage areas, heavy vessel traffic, and frequent maritime operations. As new business models such as drone logistics delivery, intelligent maritime patrols, and waterborne emergency rescue are rapidly deployed, the demand for regional low-altitude flight applications is steadily increasing. Hazardous weather conditions on the river surface, including localized strong winds, short-term thunderstorms, and low visibility, are highly sudden, small-scale, and rapidly changing. This poses higher requirements for the safety of maritime low-altitude flights and the provision of precise meteorological support services.

The collaboration, implemented at the Hongchuang Kongying Aviation Base, will focus on the full-chain development of the low-altitude economy. It will simultaneously advance diverse sectors such as cultural tourism, study tours, and rural ecological experiences. Key areas of development include four major segments: a drone delivery network along the river, a water-land integrated maritime patrol and intelligent rescue system, a drone pilot training center, and a diversified low-altitude scenario application training base. These initiatives will provide support for meteorological technology testing, real-world scenario applications, and the commercialization of research outcomes, while ensuring the safety of navigation on the Yangtze River. The goal is to create a model for low-altitude safety governance and industrial development with distinctive Zhenjiang waterway characteristics.

Earlier, the Zhenjiang Meteorological Bureau, in collaboration with the Jiangsu Provincial Meteorological Observatory, leveraged the complex characteristics of the Zhenjiang section of the Yangtze River. Using the provincial low-altitude meteorological digital base and long-range three-dimensional LiDAR wind measurement radar, they conducted demand-triggered flexible observation experiments in the local waterway. By integrating multi-source data, they successfully developed refined meteorological service products, such as small-area three-dimensional wind fields and route meteorological risk warnings, effectively strengthening the meteorological safety foundation for maritime low-altitude operations.