BEIJING, Dec 27 (GeokHub) China has approved sweeping revisions to its Civil Aviation Law, formally bringing unmanned aircraft under national aviation regulation for the first time, a move expected to significantly reshape the country’s rapidly expanding drone and low-altitude economy.
State media reported on Saturday that the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress passed the amendments on December 27, closing long-standing regulatory gaps as drone use surges across logistics, manufacturing and passenger transport.
New Certification Rules for Drones
A central feature of the revised law is the introduction of mandatory airworthiness certification for drones. Under the new framework, all entities involved in the design, production, import, maintenance and operation of unmanned aircraft will be required to obtain certification from aviation authorities.
Drone manufacturers must also assign a unique product identification code to each unit, aligning with national safety and traceability standards.
The new rules will take effect on July 1 next year.
China had previously relied on interim regulations introduced in 2024, which required real-name registration for civil drones and exempted micro, light and small models from certification. Medium and large drones, however, already needed approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) — a distinction now being formalised and expanded under the revised law.
Low-Altitude Economy Drives Reform
The legal overhaul comes as Beijing pushes the development of its so-called low-altitude economy, a national strategy covering commercial activities below 3,000 metres, including logistics drones, passenger aircraft and aerial services.
Official estimates from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Peking University and CAAC project the sector will grow from 1.5 trillion yuan in 2025 to more than 2 trillion yuan ($280 billion) by 2030, making stronger oversight a priority.
Authorities have faced mounting pressure to act as illegal drone flights in recent years have disrupted airport operations in several cities, causing flight delays and prompting fines and enforcement actions.
Impact on Major Drone and Tech Firms
The tighter rules are expected to affect major manufacturers such as DJI, the world’s largest consumer drone maker, and EHang, which develops passenger-carrying drones.
Drone-based logistics has already become a key pillar of the low-altitude economy. According to transport ministry data, 2.7 million packages — ranging from food deliveries to emergency medical supplies — were transported by drones in 2024 alone.
E-commerce and delivery giants including JD.com and Meituan have invested heavily in drone logistics, arguing it can dramatically improve efficiency. JD Logistics has tested drone networks in provinces including Jiangsu, Shaanxi and Sichuan, saying delivery times to rural areas can be cut by up to 70%.
