As of 1 May 2026, the tightened rules governing the usage of drones by individual users will apply in China. Under the fresh regulations, each purchaser of an unmanned aircraft will be required to registry the device and supply individual data before its first use. The owners of drones purchased before the entry into force of the amendment will benefit from a 12-month transitional period. During this period, they are required to comply with administrative requirements.
The fresh strategy focuses on digitization and full recognition of operations. Users must apply for approval to fly only through the Integrated Platform for the Management of Unmanned civilian Aircraft (UOM), the admin of which is the Chinese civilian Aviation Administration (CAAC). An additional request is the work to prior notification of planned routes and flight schedules to local police stations to increase public space safety and to seal air traffic surveillance.
Legislative changes form part of a broader economical improvement strategy. The central government in its 2026 macroeconomic study officially recognised the low-level economy (Low-Altitude Economy) for a key emerging pillar of the future industry. Drones, together with manned vertical take-off and landing vessels (eVTOL) and autonomous logistics, are to form the core of a fresh branch of the economy. Stricter enforcement, harmonisation of procedures and a centralised notification strategy are intended to make a predictable investment environment, attract private capital and minimise the hazard of collision and privacy violations.
Despite ambitious assumptions, there are respective crucial barriers to the commercialisation of consumer and business drones. manufacture experts point to the inactive limited availability of safe airspace over urbanised areas and rigid centralised air traffic management systems which are not keeping pace with the dynamic increase in the number of unmanned operations. improvement of UTM infrastructure (Unmanned Traffic Management) and the implementation of automated air corridors stay technological priorities for the coming years.
Source:
Author: 梁安基 Andrzej Z. Liang, 上海 Shanghai, 中国 China
Email: [email protected]
Editorial: Leszek B.
Email: [email protected]
