The status and the future development of the application of airspace techniques in surveying, mapping, remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS) are briefly described in this paper, which includes space geodesy using satellite positioning system for positioning and navigation with different accuracy and satellite remote sensing using different imaging sensors for mufti-temporal and mufti-resolution earth observation and mapping. Based on these spatial data in combination with related attribute data different global, regional, national and local geographic information systems can be generated for the needs of resources investigation, environment protection, disaster warning and global change monitoring. Some suggestions are put forward to the question how to promote furthest the development and application of airspace techniques in China in order to speed up China's modernization and sustainable development.