China puts drone rules into law as low-altitude economy takes off

Beijing adopted sweeping revisions to its decades-old Civil Aviation Law on Saturday, formally bringing uncrewed aircraft such as drones under the national legal framework for the first time and signaling state support for the country’s rapidly growing low-altitude economy.\nThe revisions, which will come into effect on July 1, were approved by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee and are a critical step in closing long-standing gaps in safety regulation. They will also guide economic development in China’s burgeoning drone industry.\nAccording to state news agency Xinhua, the revised law expands the 1995 legislation to 16 chapters and 262 articles, targeting drones explicitly for the first time.\nIt has a new dedicated chapter on civilian uncrewed aircraft, requiring all entities involved in the design, production, import, maintenance and flight operations of drones to obtain airworthiness certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) unless specifically exempted.\n\n\nIt also requires manufacturers to assign unique identification codes to each drone to improve traceability, in line with national regulations.\nThese provisions build on interim regulations introduced in 2024, which mandated real-name registration for all drones, but required certification only for medium and large models, exempting micro, light, and small civil uncrewed aircraft.\nThe latest revisions elevate these measures into permanent law, signaling tighter control over the strategic sector and addressing gaps exposed by incidents such as unauthorised flights that led to airport disruptions.\nBeyond drones, the law further strengthens general aviation safety, by explicitly banning laser interference and electromagnetic disruptions, empowering aviation operators and authorities to act when safety capacities are strained, and clarifying liabilities, sanctions and remedial measures.\nThe overhaul is also tied to the Chinese government’s drive to build the low‑altitude economy, covering commercial activities below 3,000 metres (9,840 feet), such as parcel deliveries and urban logistics.\nEstimates released last year by the CAAC suggested that this sector was already valued at over 500 billion yuan in 2023, with projections to exceed 2 trillion yuan (US$280 billion) by 2030, making drones and other low‑altitude platforms potential pillars of growth.\nChina’s drone industry has expanded rapidly, dominating the global market.\nBut with the surge in drone operations, the risk of aviation incidents has also grown, particularly in the absence of oversight.\n\n\nMainland airports and cities have reported flight delays and diversions caused by unauthorised drones, with the CAAC acknowledging repeated incidents of “black flying”. The authorities have responded with penalties including fines, confiscations, criminal charges, and blanket restrictions in surrounding airspace.\nFor instance, on February 26, an unregistered drone near the runway of Urumqi Tianshan International Airport caused delays, leading to administrative detention for its operators.\nBeijing and Shanghai have previously imposed sweeping temporary bans or strict no‑fly zones for drones, balloons and kites around major political events, airports, attractions and dense urban zones, citing flight disruptions, public safety and other security risks.\nIn a controversial step, the capital city went further in August, designating its entire region a “no-drone zone” and banning unauthorised flights without air traffic approval. It did not say why.\nChina’s new legislation coincides with an intensifying technological rivalry with the United States.\nThe US Federal Communications Commission has recently labelled Chinese drones a national security threat and restricted their use, a move Beijing has denounced as “discriminatory”.\nWhile China’s airworthiness certification for medium and large drones parallels the US’ certification, Beijing goes further by embedding traceability through real-name registration and product ID requirements, underscoring its dual emphasis on safety oversight and industrial policy.\n