Based on the Civil Aviation Administration of China(CAAC), flying a drone is legal in China. However, it is suggested to be conscious of and compliant with the drone laws listed below before doing so.
Important regulations to follow
According to the research and interpretation of the laws, some of the most vital rules to understand before for flying a drone in China:
- The drones weighing 250 grams i.e., 55 pounds or more should need to be registered with the CAAC.
- Licensing is a must for commercial operations and in other situations. See the section below to know more about the scenarios that need licensing by the CAAC.
- Drones must not be flown beyond the visual line of sight.
- You can only fly a drone up to 120 meters i.e., 394 feet.
- Flying drones in highly populated areas is prohibited.
- Drones must not be flown in the vicinity of airports, military installation, or other sensitive places that are police checkpoints or sub-stations.
- All drones are subject to China’s “No-Fly-Zones” or NFZs. Beijing is
a NFZ . - You must not fly in controlled areas until you have acceptance by the CAAC in advance.
Licensing requirements for a commercial drone
People who are seeking to use a drone in China for commercial needs must have a commercial drone license. Though this sounds easy enough and China has made the process simple from what it once was, it is still very complex for the average foreign company.
Based on the new regulations that went into effect on June 1, 2018, there are little things that needed in order to apply for a commercial license to fly in China.
- A legal business entity in China whose legal representative is a Chinese citizen.
- This legal entity must own at least one drone that has already been registered with CAAC using the operation described above.
- Liability insurance should have previously been purchased to cover usage of the drone.
- The drone operator must be certified through a training process recognized by the Chinese government.
Watch a video of Drone Regulations in China:
