China passed a revised law that for the first time formally regulates uncrewed aircraft, a move set to reshape the country’s fast-growing drone and low-altitude economy sectors, state media said yesterday.
The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress approved the changes to the Civil Aviation Law, adding a provision on airworthiness certification for drones that plugs a key regulatory gap.
The overhaul comes as China’s low-altitude economy — a national strategic initiative focusing on commercial activities below 3,000m — is forecast to grow to more than 2 trillion yuan (US$285 billion) by 2030, from 1.5 trillion yuan this year, according to estimates from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Peking University and China’s Civil Aviation Administration (CAAC).
Photo: Reuters
Under the new rules, effective on July 1 next year, all entities involved in the design, production, import, maintenance and operation of drones must obtain airworthiness certification.
Drone manufacturers would also be required to assign a unique product identification code to each unit.
China has implemented “interim regulations” for uncrewed aircraft starting last year, which stipulate that civil uncrewed aircraft must be registered under real names. The regulations also specify that micro, light and small civil uncrewed aircraft do not require airworthiness certification, while medium and large ones must apply for airworthiness certification.
As China’s drone market has rapidly expanded, oversight has lagged. Over the past few years, several cities have reported flight delays caused by illegal drone operations, prompting fines and other penalties.
The tighter requirements would affect manufacturers such as DJI, the world’s largest consumer drone maker, and EHang, which produces passenger drones.
Drone logistics have become an important driver of China’s low-altitude economy, with 2.7 million packages containing everything from hamburger lunches to life-saving medicine delivered throughout last year, official data showed.
E-commerce and food delivery leaders such as JD.com and Meituan have long talked about investing in drone logistics to improve supply chain efficiency.
JD Logistics has tested drone delivery networks in Jiangsu, Shaanxi and Sichuan, and said drones could reduce shipping times for rural customers by up to 70 percent.
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