(Yicai Global) Aug. 30 -- An unmanned aerial vehicle base, the first compound in whichthe country officially allows drones to carry out multi-scenario testing and applications,officially opened in Shanghai'sJinshan Industrial Zone today.

The East China regional branchof the Civil Aviation Administration of China, Shanghai'stransportcommission, andthe ChineseAir Force'sShanghai commandreportedly jointly instituted the center, whichhas 58 square kilometers of available airspace, state news outlet The Paper reported.

The installationwill innovateUAV systems and aviation and undertake research and development, testing and industrial application of drones to spearhead development of the pilotless aircraftindustryin Shanghai and the rest of East China, officials in the city's western Jinshan district said.

The testing zoneis mainly responsible forthethree major functions ofcivil aviation flight testing, application demonstration and industrialization, one official stated, adding that its test airspace and routes have been approved for use. Future flight services such as land drone and water-borne take-off and landingdrone test flights will be offered, and anassembly and testing center for the unpiloted craft will also be set up.

As an application demonstration base, thefacilitywill also provide land and 'flying-boat'drone scenarioapplication support for logistics, lawenforcement and firefighting. As an industrial base, it will focus on drawing in backbone enterprises for UAV R&D, manufacturing and assembly and dronecompanyincubation systems in the future.

Editor: Ben Armour