China wants better weather forecasts for drones, flying taxis

Visitors catch a sight of skyscraper China Zun Tower and office buildings in the central business district from a recreation park at a rooftop of a shopping mall, in Beijing, China. The CMA has been tasked with drawing up regulations for dealing with hazardous weather conditions that can affect flights, including heavy precipitation and low visibility. — AP

China has tapped its national meteorological bureau to develop a weather framework to support an expected wave of drones, flying taxis and other electric aircraft that may be zipping through its cities in coming years.

A policy document published this week by 10 government agencies including the China Meteorological Administration laid out a timeline for rolling out a suite of industry standards for the emerging low-altitude economy by 2027. It relates to airborne activities up to 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) above ground.