Drones may be buzzing around Sai Kung skies as early as next year

^{AutoFlight’s CarryAll is the world’s first 2-tonne eVTOL to receive full airworthiness certification}

Drones will soon be whizzing around the Sai Kung skies, piloted by police. They are being used for surveillance of crime black spots, border security, searching for people who need rescuing and traffic management/accident investigation. In Sai Kung drones are expected also to be deployed hunting for burglars, the most common criminals here. Trials with drones are now being conducted at the Peak, Cheung Chau and Kowloon West.

The police are using advanced, AI-enabled drones equipped with high-resolution, thermal imaging and night vision cameras. These drones also can be fitted with automatic docking, loudspeakers and red-blue flashing lights.

^{Chinese flying taxi maker EHang is selling its EH216-S electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle on Alibaba Group Holding’s Taobao marketplace}

The machines are operated by a Police Drone Cadre established in 2024. Operators are trained to fly drones up to 25kg in weight. The Government is moving towards deploying much larger drones up to 150kg. The police drone models now are the DJI M30T, Autel EVO Max 4T and the DJI Matrice 330 RTK.

The world’s largest drone manufacturer, DJI, is based in Shenzhen across the border. SZ DJI Technology Company was founded by Frank Wang and remains privately owned but the Chinese state now has a stake. DJI has annual revenues of about US$4 billion. Its drones have been used by both sides in the Ukraine war, also by terrorists elsewhere (the mind boggles; remember 9/11?). The company and governments are working to prevent the latter.

^{DJI Matrice 30T (M30T) Drone}

When will we see drones carrying people flying in Sai Kung? As early as next year, maybe. The government has set up a two to three year testing programme for passenger drones. Now the machines are being tested doing logistics, such as food and medical delivery.

Big Chinese eVTOL firms such as AutoFlight and Ehang are seeking partners to help them introduce flying taxi service in the Greater Bay Area. Drone flights will be much cheaper than those in helicopters, Dominic Chow, deputy director of civil aviation, said. A Heli-Services flight in an aircraft that can carry six passengers now costs about $46,000 for an hour.

The most advanced drone made by AutoFlight is the CarryAll eVTOL two-ton aircraft. It has been tested successfully doing a manned round-trip flight to an offshore oil platform. Ehang’s EH216-S is a passenger carrying pilot-less eVTOL that has received an air worthiness certificate. It is a two-seater aircraft with 16 propellors and 16 independent motors.

Yogi Berra: “The future ain’t what it used to be.”