Where to Start for Legal Drone Flights?

The "15th Five-Year Plan" outline emphasizes the healthy and orderly growth of the low-altitude economy, yet illegal drone flights, such as "black flights" and the bypassing of flight restrictions, remain frequent occurrences. How can drone enthusiasts and operators ensure their flights are compliant?

At a press conference held by the State Council Information Office on July 24, Wang Qiang, Director of the Traffic Management Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security, outlined the key principles for legal flight: "First register, second check airspace, third apply for approval."

Civil unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly known as drones, while enriching public life and supporting industry development, directly impact public safety and social order with their flight safety.

The "Interim Regulations on the Flight Management of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles" (hereinafter referred to as the "Interim Regulations"), which came into effect in January 2024, is China's first specialized administrative regulation for the drone sector. It clarifies management requirements for drone design, production, real-name registration, operator qualifications, airspace, and flight activities.

To combat serious illegal and criminal activities involving drones, the Ministry of Public Security launched a six-month nationwide "Clear Sky" special operation starting in December 2025. This operation focused on cracking down on offenses such as ultra-high-altitude "black flights", intrusions into civil aviation routes and airport no-fly zones, and the illegal modification of drone software to bypass restrictions. Through intensive rectification, the disruptive behavior of "black flights" interfering with aviation has been effectively curbed, prompting enterprises, institutions, and individual owners to voluntarily fulfill requirements for real-name registration, airspace checks, and activity applications. A culture of lawful and compliant flight is taking shape.

Focusing on the public security authorities' administrative penalty responsibilities, the department is refining law enforcement systems and standardizing enforcement activities. Based on the relevant provisions of the "Interim Regulations", they are detailing penalty benchmarks and unifying standards to ensure fair and impartial enforcement at the grassroots level, while also delineating "boundary lines" for public flight activities.

Furthermore, public security authorities are strengthening drone-related legal education to effectively raise legal and safety awareness among the public, especially drone manufacturers, sellers, and enthusiasts. The authorities also proactively seek opinions from various parties and gain insights into the challenges faced by the industry's development through methods like visiting low-altitude economy enterprises and addressing public inquiries. In response to calls for expanding the supply of flyable airspace and simplifying flight approval processes, they are actively encouraging air traffic control and civil aviation authorities to study and optimize work measures, promoting the "scan-to-fly" practices from Shanghai and Sichuan to further streamline approval procedures and improve efficiency. This strongly supports and ensures the high-quality development of the low-altitude economy.

Wang Qiang explained that the issue of compliant flight can be summarized as "first register, second check airspace, third apply for approval":

1. Complete Real-Name Registration and Activation.

All drone owners must first complete real-name information registration through the "Civil Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Integrated Management Platform" (UOM Platform).

2. Check Airspace.

Before each flight, it is essential to log in to the government website or the UOM Platform to check airspace attributes and view the distribution of blue-designated flyable areas. Flights can only be conducted after confirming the area is a flyable zone.

3. Apply for Approval.

If you plan to operate a micro, light, or small drone within controlled airspace, or engage in flight activities that require an application as per the "Interim Regulations", in addition to the first two steps, you must submit an application in advance through the UOM Platform. You are not permitted to fly beyond the scope of the approved application.

Additionally, compliant flight requires meeting operator qualification standards, including obtaining the relevant operator licenses and certificates.