On 20 August 2026, Air Chief Marshal Manat Chavanaprayoon, Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), together with Mr. Chanin Kanhirun, Member of the Civil Aviation Commission (CAC) and Advisor to the Supervisory Board of CAAT, led a CAAT delegation on a technical visit to AOSSCI in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People\u2019s Republic of China, to learn about Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The visit aimed to gain insights into the development of UAS technologies, covering research and development, manufacturing and pilot production, flight testing, and the application of UAS across various missions and sectors. AOSSCI develops and provides UAS solutions for a wide range of applications, including surveillance and monitoring, emergency response, infrastructure inspection, and other specialized missions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The CAAT delegation also learned about various types and capabilities of UAS, including VTOL fixed-wing aircraft, command and communication systems, as well as the integration of equipment and payloads for different missions, such as surveying and surveillance, mapping, search and rescue, communication support, and emergency delivery. These technologies represent important components of the development of next-generation aviation and low-altitude air transportation systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The visit also provided an important opportunity for the CAAT delegation to exchange knowledge on Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), an emerging concept for next-generation air transportation that aims to utilize advanced aircraft and aviation technologies to support passenger and cargo transportation and other services within and between urban areas. Key elements include Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft, autonomous technologies, command and communication systems, infrastructure, and airspace management systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The knowledge and experience gained from the visit will support CAAT in studying and developing appropriate approaches to standards, airworthiness certification, operational authorization, and regulatory oversight for UAS and emerging aircraft technologies, taking into account the characteristics and risk levels of different operations. It will also contribute to Thailand\u2019s preparedness for the future adoption of AAM, with consideration given to safety, airspace management, infrastructure, operational requirements, and integration with the existing aviation system, while ensuring alignment with technological developments and international aviation standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The visit reflects CAAT\u2019s commitment to continuously monitoring and studying emerging aviation technologies, including UAS, VTOL, and AAM, while preparing appropriate regulations, standards, and regulatory frameworks to support the future development and safe integration of these technologies in Thailand. This includes potential applications in passenger and cargo transportation, service operations, emergency response, surveying and inspection, and other sectors, contributing to the development of Thailand\u2019s aviation and Advanced Air Mobility ecosystem and ensuring that it is safe, efficient, and aligned with international standards.<\/p>\n\n\n