Kuala lumpur: Guidelines on the Low Altitude Economy (LAE) are expected to be announced by the end of this year, providing a regulatory, operational, and governance framework to support the safe integration of airspace into the economic sector, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Loke made the announcement during a press conference after officiating the LAE forum. He mentioned that the guidelines, being developed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), are expected to be unveiled at the Transport Expo Asia (TXA) 2026. Loke emphasized that the LAE presents a significant economic opportunity for Malaysia, as the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and drone technology sectors are expanding rapidly, bolstered by global investments.
Countries around the world are actively developing policies, technologies, and ecosystems to capitalize on this emerging economic opportunity. For Malaysia, Loke noted, this is not merely an opportunity in the aviation sector but also a chance to attract high-value investments, create highly skilled jobs, strengthen the local technology ecosystem, and enhance the country's competitiveness at regional and global levels.
LAE encompasses economic activities and public services carried out within the low-altitude airspace ecosystem using technologies such as drones, AAM, air logistics, infrastructure inspections, smart agriculture, and emergency services. Loke highlighted that safety is a crucial aspect of developing the LAE sector in Malaysia, as it involves the national aviation sector regulated by CAAM.
Loke stated, "This is an important aspect in which CAAM has a role to play, as it is the technical regulator of the aviation industry. So anything that flies in our airspace must obtain approval from CAAM. We want to ensure that these guidelines provide space for the LAE industry to grow rapidly in the country."
He also pointed out that the LAE sector already exists in Malaysia, especially in agriculture through the use of drones for smart farming. The use of drones is becoming increasingly common, including by the media for capturing videos, images, and visuals. Therefore, everything operating in the airspace must be regulated to ensure safety.
The event was also attended by Sarawak Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin, CAAM chairman Datuk Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi, and CAAM chief executive officer Datuk Captain Norazman Mahmud.